Tell me if you think I am all wrong on this. Threads were easier to see - and access. I find these current forums 'hard work'. That means less visits - and less discussion. The division of tech support and general discussion seems a little false too - often a tech support query may lead on to a more general discussion, related questions, or product suggestions.
Elegant simplicity is often a mark of good design.
The forum is compartmentalized and makes it less inviting and unclear where to address topics. I like the Lightscape approach where we have an interactive e-mail system. I'm not sure why the discourse diminished. Everybody has work up the gazoo. We're between revs.