We've done a lot of changes, you don't know how it is on the inside, what we have inside the forum. What friendships have gotten closer. Our experiences growing as a forum. You know absolutely nothing about my forum. So before you go off and say something further to belittle my forum, know how it really is and how it's enjoyed by others.
I'm not looking to get involved here in this argument, but I'd like to point out that no potential new member on the outside knows that, what your community is like. It's not something you can show to someone visiting the site for the first time. My forum is the same way- a lot of history, a lot of friendships, and even some working serious relationships- but it's just not something someone coming in can just KNOW.
And that's where making your forum appealing to others from an outside perspective is important, and why listening to an outsider's initial opinion is so helpful. You need to appeal to new members to get them to join. You need to make them want to join without knowing the ins and outs of your community, because that's just not something that a visitor can understand. If you want your community to grow, it's pretty important to at least consider other opinions. If someone is telling you why they would be put off from joining your site, that's valuable feedback.
I'm not a fan of your default either, personally- it's definitely nice that you have a good variety, though. I personally think that Blorange is the best looking skin that you have available, and I think it would make a more appealing default. It seems more inviting to me than the others.
Good luck with your forum.
