@4221848
I think the staff's heart and motivation are in the right place, however, I believe the hard feelings about the site's changes are less about function/aesthetics (Though that does play a large role) and more about being ignored and/or not valued as a community as the site's radical changes were done without consultation about what the community wanted, at least that's what it seems like on the surface...

I would wager if the community had been involved more in the process of the site's renovation, some of the changes already made would have been met with much more acceptance than it is now. If there would've been a poll/contest or suggestion box about the site's look or function, that would've involved the community's input, which would make folks feel as if they had a say into the look of the site, but as it stands I think people feel left out and that the changes were done without their input.

Again, I must stress that the motivation of the site's new look/function was made with the community in mind as a whole, (in context of the long view) which is why, I'll wager that decisions were made internally, but the execution needed a bit of adjustment...Thanks for clearing some of the reasons why it had to be done the way it has, that just proves my point of your good will.