The idea with the included bphome/bpmember themes is to be a skeleton framework to build off of. It shows how to use all of the included functions and loops in a way that makes the output of each element clear and concise.
It might not be the cleanest theme available, but it’s a great start if you’re learning BP or you need to understand what files do what for what reasons.
In my opinion, an experienced BP developer should be able to create a unique template starting from the bphome/bpmember themes and working outwards, within a few days. There’s no doubt that BP themes are extremely involved, but that’s likely to change as the platform matures and WordPress better supports theme locations and child themes.
Long story short, you’re probably right, but don’t expect the included theme to get much fancier. (Look at WordPress and bbPress for example. Both included original themes are very primitive in their designs.)
I’ve always been of the opinion that drop down menus are evil. To each his own? Drop down menus hide options from users. They also stop people in their tracks and encourage them to start poking around looking all of the second level options… essentially studying your site map instead of browsing your site. The thought process goes from “oh… this must be the link to click” to “oh… there’s more options in here. Hmmm… I wonder what all of my other options are”. Worst of all are the fly-out style menus (like in the Buddy Bar) that are difficult to use and require pixel-perfect mousing. If you mouse even a single pixel out of bounds… they close. DOH!! Also, most web-based fly outs will close if you try to make a diagonal beeline from a menu option to one of it’s sub-menu options. The Buddy Bar suffers from this problem since it’s pure CSS I assume. A little javascript can be very helpful in this case to add a delay on mouseout and allow for diagonal mousing. But if you must use drop downs, I prefer a single level that is stacked vertically. No second level. No fly outs to the side. I really hate the Buddy Bar menus actually.
As for your issues with the theme. Personally… I think it’s pretty well done. I think the two side-by side menus in the profile sections are actually pretty revolutionary and work really well. It takes a second to “get it” because it’s not a scheme I’ve ever seen before… but I think it’s great. But it’s just the default theme. It’s not hard to make new themes that would have drop downs, fly outs, vertical bars, horizontal bars… whatever you wish. That’s not to say the default theme couldn’t be improved. I’m sure it could be.
@JJJ: I see your point. Thinking of it now, it makes sense. BP isn’t meant to be a finished product design wise like Jomsocial, it’s supposed to be themed like K2.
@ David: In my opinion users above 35 who are used to forums and are already unsure what such social networks are for need the simplest navigation possible. As you said, I think that drop-down with fly-outs (when they work properly, as for example on linux.com) give you a sense of how the site is organised, and that’s precisely why I find it would be particularly useful in this case. Especially if the BP community is part of a lager site with front page news, directories, etc, and that there is a higher navigation level.
If I use BP for my site, I will definitely seek to simplify it’s navigation to the bare minimum, and try to figure out how to intelligently combine the utility of BP and a forum, which in my view is the other big issue.
