David - I am in full support of a XPages forum on LDD, but you need to split the need for this database and the database design. Those are two seperate discussions. Most of us support the need for stand-alone forum/db.

 

But the design is holding people back from participating. Just look at the post I am replying too ... you typed in a URL and it didn't auto-convert to a hotspot. The core functionality is not ready for production. It would have been better to use the standard forum template and work on this one on the side until it was ready. For me, the lack of unread marks on the thread main topic when a new reply is there and the lack of seeing your place in the thread when navigating from a document. Now - I only used the Notes client to access the LDD forums - so the transition from Notes discussion db to the XPages discussion template is very jarring. 

 

So understand the frustration. It's not that people don't want a XPages forum. They just hate the design. And the decision to use this design it was premature IMO. So my suggestion is everyone needs to stop being so defensive about the reaction. It's the internet, people bitch about change. Look at the recent changes to the UI's on Gawker, Engadget, and just yesterday Shacknews.com - people want something to complain about on the internet. They are going to complain about this. Accept that and just address the major issues as fast as possible. I am sure you guys can get a copy of the template before it goes up on OpenNTF.org - and be ready with a new release quickly. I also hope someone is working with the LDD team for a process to update this forum with new designs as well - because there will be a process.