Users always see problems with the new software and miss the familiar features of the old software. That's why there are negative comments (including one by me when I was angry about losing a post).

I think it was a very successful upgrade on the whole. Nothing was broken or lost.

As a regular user I miss some of the old features too, but the truth is: software needs to be replaced or upgraded every 5-10 years.

I don't know anything about forum software though, or blog software. But I imagine MasterAdmin had a look at the options and picked this package for a good reason.

But it's important that people point out the problems, so they can be corrected.

Can you "skin" this package? I think the site should have more of a Russian (or CIS!) feel to it" Not just the out-of-the-box look... Perhaps a header with some nice photos from Russia... ? the flags of Russia and the CIS countries or some cultural symbols of the area...? Just so that people immediately see what the site is about and see some nice images.