I was talking about this:
www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=285357 . It looks like he found the same mod you did.
I would say it isn't so much that it's difficult to implemt as it is that the system just wasn't designed for it. A lot of the code (I think) is pretty much the same as it's been for many years. And the software also wasn't really designed for modifying (without file edits). The plugin system helps a lot but you're still at the mercy of the hook placement within the code (in other words there are a lot of things you just cannot change using a plugin). I've heard that long ago all mods were done by file edits, so I suppose we're spoiled.
Anyway, I know there's some urgency on your end, so I'll think about what we can do to get you going, but it will probably be later this afternoon at the earliest (unless someone else reads this thread and comes up with a better idea).
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...but I guess I'm kind of defending vbulletin when your point was really that your host is being unreasonable. I think you're right, like you said, if many other people had that requirement it would be done already.