It sounds like you want to add a custom menu item called “Profile” that links the current users control panel?
I’m actually trying to do the same thing. Users who are not regular users of community portals or forums are conditioned to look at MENUS for navigation. The assumption for the average user is, if it’s not in the menu, you can’t get there from here.
Buddypress like many great internet tools often forget there are still basic-minded users on the internet. Navigation is still king.
