... why

[Nate]

What was the point of getting the new layout?

The layout hasn't change at all. Same style portal, same style threads.

I used to be on a different forum (not reptile related) that was fine. Then they got this layout...

Ruined the site. Hardly anyone even posts now and it *stinks* because it was one of the most popular forums around that I know of...

It just makes stuff more complicated.

What, specifically, makes it more complicated? Change of location of some of the buttons?

I'm looking for feedback on what may be confusing - but I think ultimately, the goal of the new theme that vB provided was to make things easier.

You may think, right now - it's confusing, but give it some time to get used to some of the new elements and you may find you're navigating the forum quicker than you did in that past. I know I am - but I've been messing around on this version of vB for quite a few months now...
Perhaps that's why I'm missing some of the confusion.

Plus I dont have a hot-rod layout now.
Dislike

We're working on it

do you get mostly white space when you use "New Posts"? I use it and it's almost unreadable now.

That is a confirmed bug appearing only in Internet Explorer 6 and 7. I'm working on getting that fixed right now.