[Digital Jedi]

Perhaps not the most simplistic suggestion you've ever gotten, but seems like a nice idea and thought I'd throw it out there.

Places like Dynamic Drive have their user submitted code actually demoed on the download page, and while I realize that wouldn't be feasible for modifications (at least not at this point) I thought it might be a nice way to demo uploaded styles.

Being very simplistic here, but basically when a style author uploads the zip file or styles folder, a demo style is created, or authors have a special control panel where they import the files. Maybe the styles upload to a separate vB install, or maybe you just preview the current styles forum with the custom version (not all of vB.org of course).

The idea is to not just to see the install on a live forum, and to be able to demo the skin from a users perspective, not just a guest, and without having to register on the author's site.

Like I said, being simplistic in terms, even though I know it's more involved in execution. But, there you go.