Ref the ratings, I think we have two separate issues here - ratings system as it applied to the technical posts and ratings system as it applied to the lounge posts.
The lounge culture and the technical forums were really two different things in my view, almost two different communities really. I'd argue the old system worked very well on the technical forums and I guess very badly in the lounge, although I wasn't in the habit of posting or even reading that much personally.
So my view is that it is a shame that the failure in the lounge (which is also, I feel, the source of the vast majority of complaints about the old system) has led to the removal of what I and others feel was a very effective system for the technical forums. But then as a largely non-lounge user who comes to the site for technical content rather than chatter, I suppose I would think that. I fully respect that the lounge is an important part of the community for many and the two sides need to co-exist.
Aside from the above, I'm adjusting to the new site, I'm actually pleased I no longer have to pay for an avatar and a journal and I look forward to seeing the future improvements. That certainly wasn't my initial attitude but I've apologised enough about that
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