p.s. I do agree with you on a number of things here –
yes: new features as theme options (opt-ins, not outs), and yes: it’s probably part of a wider jigsaw – a well developed Codex would have helped, as would a much clearer / better signposted buddypress.org (invitations to test 1.2. and how to, were only obvious to a knowledgable few – which may explain the small uptake).
