Just a note from someone who works as a web developer: You'll notice that the block above says "We've been involved in an upgrade to the cutting edge with vBulletin.". This forum looks to be using a pretty standard installation of a 3rd party software (VBulletin). That likely means that these changes are largely in the hands of the developers of VBulletin. However there are almost always good reasons to upgrade: Aside from the new features that new software provides there are often more important reasons such as security, performance and compatibility with changes in server technology (eg more recent versions of the PHP programming language on which this runs).

Remember also that "new features" may be features that make the maintenance of boards like this much easier. I'm sure most of you will have seen how forums can be brought down by poor management and/or spam build up. You only have to join a few Google Groups to see how quickly this can happen.

If only it was as simple as "if it ain't broke..." unfortunately web technology is just not that static. Even if you refuse to change, other elements around you will and sooner or later you will run into trouble. Trust me, us web developers suffer as much as you users do, just as we think ...ah that's sorted... one link in the chain changes and off we go again!