I want to use an awards system with this layout, any suggestions?

The text wrapping in first and last post in a thread is a bug in 4.0.1 and has nothing to do with your style. The bug is fixed in the upcoming 4.0.2

Hopefully this is updated for 4.0.1

thanks, any quick way to change the fundamental color from this grayish blue to somethin like dark blue everywhere?
as in see my logo at moneycontrolforums.com .. i want the logo color to blend with the site color, rather other way round...

You can always change the color for the header stylevar to match your logo, even though it's a gradient this should be close #07285e

thanks, but how and where to change..? kindly guide..

Sure, in your AdminCP click on Styles & Templates > Style Manager > (vB4 Blue) select StyleVars from the dropdown menu > search for header_background and you can change the color there. Please click Install if you use this. :)

thanks dude :)
really helped.. yeah, i've installed it on 2 of my forums, but unfortunately can mark as installed only once :p

In Join Date, the fate displays with a % sign in front of each variant. Is there a way to edit this in templates?

Sounds like a modification, probably one that previously required you to manually edit the postbit. I would check back through them and see which one it is and apply it to the new template.