If you do a research for the forum softwares currently out there. You will see those Bulletin style ones are most popular.

here is some data I get after doing some research on forum software:

• Vbulletin :cost $250
  
• IpBoard: cost $20+ per month
  
• phpBB: free and recent update include the sub-forum feature

so why not I choose phpBB?
Actually I trid the phpBB, but uninstalled it right after one day. Because I was turned off by That Gaint PHPBB logo stuck in the topleft corner. and the new user registration is too complicated, which will turn my visitor off I think.
On those two aspects, My little forum did really well. It allow user name their own site for the forum, and very simple registration process. That's the reason I switch to MLF.

If I am the owner of the MLF source code and are capable of complex coding. My business strategy will be go towards the Bulletin style. and price it at a competitive price tag less than $100 to compete with vbulletin and Ipboard.
It could offer free version for basic user. But if user need premium feature( sub-forum for example), they need to pay for it. My theory is if a site owner need sub-forum feature, that could mean their site already get lots of traffic, and they can afford to pay.

Those are just my 2 cents.

Hey visitors to this site, please stop staying in lurking mode.
Please speak up your mind.
What style and feature you want MLF to be and to have?
Maybe the site owner should start a poll to check what ppl really want?

Yes i like what you said, the front page contact all topics... If visitor want to visit a categoty the catigory is allowed. One tihing i like about this forum is that with 1mb of internet data. You can browse freely with my little forum.

Now question
[*] how to put a thread at the top and leave it there forever. Or anytime you like.
[*] can one be able to remove the powered by my little forum at the bottom page? Its kind of too bold there.
[*] am i allowed to use customize themes on my little forum?