Wayne is capable of feeding stuff up the tree but that doesn't mean it will get implemented.
Also it's worth noting that one customer saying "I really need this, put it into the software" does not translate to it being something a lot of customers want. Every request is critical to somebody, but obviously not every request can be added. There is also the issue of whether particular requests fit the vision for the software. A good example of this is people asking for a Shoutbox, which is unlikely ever to be added because it doesn't fit what the company want the software to be.
Another point worth noting is that even at this site's peak, modified sites accounted for only a tiny percentage of overall customers. The overwhelming majority of customers wanted a default site, and the most they did was put up a custom logo. That's still the case today. People don't want the hassle. Most don't even play with many of the options, it's all left as default. Create a few forums, slap a logo on (these days, pick one of the themes as well) and go.
Spending a fortune on a modification platform these days is unlikely to provide a good return on investment, unless you introduced some form of fee, but with modifications everyone wants everything for nothing.
Wayne has a full plate of responsibilities as it is. He's also been used as a human shield against direct criticism of anyone higher up, which is entirely ridiculous on face because he is one of the few remaining positives about this product. I wouldn't burden him with the additional task of asking him to fight customer battles for functions and features that should have been added to the core vBulletin 5 product.
It's entirely understandable that every customer has different needs but some of the functionality missing in vB5 should have been optional. Most customers use a default version of the software because that is what is readily available. They don't have the option of enabling a shoutbox, for example, from the admincp to see if it's something for which their site has any use. Most customers are afraid of breaking something and so they won't even attempt to install third party add ons or modifications. The handful of techno geeks who insist on modding and template editing the bejeezus out of the software are a small minority.
We agree and have always agreed that if modifications are necessary to a forum the core content is the problem. That is not the issue. The issue is summarily dismissing your existing customer base by creating a product that doesn't even allow for a smooth transition. Customers who could not move up moved out. That is why this product is in the state in which it currently resides. That is why a competing product was even capable of gaining a foothold in a market once dominated by this product line.
12-23-2017, 02:52 PM
Threaded Mode