I'm kind of with TECK on this one. I use plugins but I don't like how most of these new hacks are all coded in plugins. IMO that wasn't the intention of the plugin system

What was the intention then ?

Small code additions or includes. IMO of course ;)

I've noticed a trend where users think a hack/mod is better because it has no file uploads.

Well anything that takes less time for the Admin is going to be viewed as 'better.' It's quicker to upload one product xml as opposed to editing multiple files, worrying about future upgrades, then uploading them.

That might be true, but doesn't mean its correct.

How do you define "correct"?

I think that the term "template modification" implies that you must edit the template manually, since that is what it has always meant in the past. If a plug-in automatically modifes the template then it is a plug-in. The reason being that some people choose not to add any manual template edits (or file edits) to their forum, and use only products and plugins, to make upgrading their vb (when updates are released) much easier. If you choose to make manual template edits then it makes your vb install "less pure," (out of the box) so there should be a way for people to distinguish between plug-ins/products that modify the templates automagically, and those that require manual edits. If you start putting plugins in the template edits area, but they do not require any manual template edits then it tends to muddy those waters more, and makes the differentiation between the cateogries meaningless.

As I told before, there are numerous addons that require manual template modification.

then IMO those would go in the template modification category, but not plug-ins that automatically modify the templates. Otherwise there should be a new category: "plugins that modify templates automatically"

Well the poll seems quite conclusive.