Okay, thanks for the response. But let me rephrase, as your recommendation at the surface almost seems to limiting.
I would like to have the options, as things grow, to use other parts of the system. Also, I would not want to use some third party forum when I can use bbpress.org.
So is there no way to use buddypress, block out what’s not needed, and add an article mod? Trim it down to just the profile system to start and an article posting function?