Thinking of switching to vBulletin from IPB, but...

[thedevilman]

i currently use the IPB system 2.0 from when it used to offer a free unsupported version. now that they have gone to a pay only system and i am actually thinking about forking over the cash, i am looking into some other 'pay' solutionz.

the main thing i am looking for iz flexibility and community support. let me explain. i have a lot, i mean a hell of a lot planned for my site and it would require a lot of modificationz.

i need an irc chat module, very flexible portal system, very customizable skinning, the ability to add entire new tablez to the forum layout, customized bbcode buttonz, etc, etc, etc. oh and fairly easy installation of existing modz.

the IPB community haz been pretty good in helping me to set up what i need for my IPB forum and since i am totally new to vB i would need an even heftier pool of info, reference metarial and community.

i guess my question iz mostly to those of you who have done some crazy thingz to your forums. have you been able to find the answeres you needed and get good help from vB and it's community?

i have looked around a bit here and already see some add-on modz that i think will help a lot with some of what i am trying to do but there iz still a lot that i just kn0 iz too 'my site' specific and i'll need some serious help.

thX a lot to anyone that haz opinionz to offer. from what i've seen so far i am fairly impressed with vB. i just need a lot more input b4 i would decide to switch an entire system that i am so familiar with.

i guess ideally (in a perfect world, heh) i am looking for what IPB and it's community offer but much more. here'z to dreaming, heh.