What I think is kinda odd about this rant, and about half of the comments here, is the implicit assumption that web forum software must be simple and dumb. "How could it possibly need X, it's just a forum dammit!" Why? Says who? Do we have some "shit's easy" syndrome going on here?
Meanwhile, the users of the forum that I've seen, mostly at TDWTF, seem to mostly complain how short of features and functionality it is/was compared to other BBS solutions.
So which is it? Is it too complex, or not complex enough? It seems to be doing all right at the current level of complexity. If you're suggesting a different one, what makes you think that would be better? Better for who, exactly?
Also note that Discourse is trying to take business from a pile of well-established competitors. To do that, you generally have to be not just as good, but much better, and with flashier features too, for both the users and the mods and admins.
Meanwhile, the users of the forum that I've seen, mostly at TDWTF, seem to mostly complain how short of features and functionality it is/was compared to other BBS solutions.
So which is it? Is it too complex, or not complex enough? It seems to be doing all right at the current level of complexity. If you're suggesting a different one, what makes you think that would be better? Better for who, exactly?
Also note that Discourse is trying to take business from a pile of well-established competitors. To do that, you generally have to be not just as good, but much better, and with flashier features too, for both the users and the mods and admins.