I think it has drained the board of the wit it once had. The old format may have been well, old, but the charm of the lounge was the quick wit and dasterdliness that just doesn't translate to this format.
VT90 approved this post (despite his lack of wit)
As far as the lounge goes, it's been a downer. It may work for a typical message board, but the lounge has definitely not been the same. Not sure exactly why, but I don't come here nearly as often as I used to.