I'm late to the party on this one so I apologize if I'm too late. Please keep in mind as you read this that I'm describing similar issues as I've had with other formats so while new here it's a long and old issue for me. For example; I switched back to Windows 7 from the Windows 10 trial last year because of the "tiles". If I wanted my PC to have a mobile view format I'd buy a tablet or use a smart phone. As it is I'm using the time until 7 is no longer supported to learn Linux so I have more control over the interface. Unfortunately this new forum style is similar; I find the "current view" very distracting and hard to read.
I also prefer to see the subject "chain". In the old view it would be: permies>forums>tinkering with this site>[insert
thread title]
Instead with the current view it just states: tinkering with this site
This makes for more "work" in going back to/in a section to look for similar reference material on a particular subject. In fact, most of the information I find is from links at the bottom of the page rather than at the main index. I've forever had issues with the forum index as far as finding things. As above with the distracting "tiles" I'm distracted by the "best ever" and "best this year". Also, I've often went to a section to post a thread only to later find there was actually a section for what I posted. If you'll indulge me compare the view on the main page:
https://permies.com/forums?homepageView=-99
Now compare it to this board for disabled farmers I'm creating(I looked at the rules and if I missed something please feel free to edit out my link):
http://disabledfarmer.org/forum/
Note that I've included descriptions on the topics covered in the sections. It's nowhere complete as I have more topics to enter but I wanted to show an example of how clean and easy it is to find particular subjects. For someone with visual challenges such as myself a clean, simple format makes for a pleasurable and educational visit. Here, the old view is "calmer" to look at. My eyes don't focus easily or quickly so if there is a bunch of stuff on a page I can't stay on it long before my eyes start to hurt. I try as much as possible to avoid the forums homepage so I miss a lot of content here as most of my participation is from a link in the daily email or from the bottom of the page. It's frustrating for me to find things otherwise.
I absolutely agree with others as far as having the actual date of the post.
I'm sorry to have read that the old view will be gone soon because I much prefer it over the current view.
Just my 2 beads worth.
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