Hi
I have this idea to address especially to the forum owner, I think that the actual forum format is a bit old and no adapted for web 2.0, 3.0.
I think it should be a good idea to provide access to the content using service layer (REST is the actual "à la mode" approach).
REST is efficient and simple to deploy, then great stuff could be done around as developing mobile devices applications to interact with the forum database and so one.
If you see a little lamp switch on then the idea appeared to you interesting then we can organize our selfs as IT professionals to do simple but effective things to be "à la page".
cheers
P.S : just don't tell me why I write in English, the answer is simple, I learned English before French and guess what ? I was there in Algiers and of course I had a very good English professors.