The thing is StackOverflow really really works. If I search Google for a programming query I nearly always find links to useful information on SO, if not the precise answer.

(I've even found my own answers via Google when I have forgotten how to do something)

That is SO's first and foremost use case. And I reiterate - it works extremely well.

The community features are secondary to that (it's not Quora), and there are thousands of users who will tell you that it is not 'impossible' to use.