To be fair, EAB's layout (for example) is even worse, which is why I always preferred this site. I go to "eab.abime.net" and I see links and links and links. "Amiga scene", "Retrogaming", "Nostalgia", "support.whatever.whatever". "Request.whatever.whatever". No "main section" showing the most recent posts. I don't care about a bunch of sub-forums that may not have been posted in for months. Main website should open to a simple "at a glance" list of the most recently updated threads. Just IMHO. 
Mike, over at EAB, just click "Today's Posts" logged in or not. That would be ideal if AO were laid out like that.
They show, Thread/Thread Starter, Last Post, Replies, Views & Forum. Plus, when logged in at EAB, all the logged in users are right up at top. However, on AO, it's nice to see who's logged in even when I'm not.
OK, also to be fair... AO "Recent Forum Topics" have the same exact info that EAB does. Maybe that changed (doubt it) since I quoted myself, maybe not. TBH, I didn't compare the two side x side.
Anyhoo, that's all a guy needs so, that works 4 me.
I was checking the look and layout options to see if I could display more than 6 recent threads but, I didn't notice anything. Would be nice to see maybe 10 to 15/20 recent threads.
Here's a thought... maybe have a java script activation box, on the left side, in the header of recent topics. Click it and an overlay box pops up with radio buttons that's let's the user choose anywhere from 10/20/30 more threads, to... week, month, year, and to infinity & beyond!
Hit OK/Enter and the page reloads with the user's choices.
I actuall hate JS but in this case that would work as long as it wasn't activated by hovering. And yes, I know, that won't work with iBrowse............ yet!
Right then..... I gotta quit playing so much "Hi Bob"....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh9pZWCd8MU
