I am no expert, barely even know what I am doing on a computer but isn't there a difference in Banters and Forums being that Forums have sub forums, topics and different areas, etc like Puff or others run rampent with assholes and moderator assholes where as Banters are more of a BS'ing string of posts like CI and here with this one being a Deluxe Banter where we can be dumbasses and give each other the business while having fun? If I am somewhat correct then this is a Banter and some are looking for a Forum. And by all means ultimately I don't care much either how it winds up just so I can B.S. about Cigars, beer, liquor, coffee and the wardens with the friendly folks I have met on the CI Banter.
There's technologically no difference. The Banter on CI is just Forum software that has most of its features turned off or restricted. Philosophically, it's up to Tony (and us to whatever extent he allows) how this one is run. Generally there seems to be a consensus that we don't want this to turn into a full-blown forum with sub-forums and sub-sub-forums. Just needs a banter and maybe a couple of sub-forums for reviews and deals. Maybe someplace to put pictures from meetups, herfs or CF.
I enjoy the organic nature the single thread idea has, but can see some benefits to both. If you get too sub-sub, then you are going to have Cigarbanter/cigarreviews/aspecificcigar, so you basically end up having countless threads on specific cigars. Now, as great as that may sound, it could end up being hundreds of threads with a couple reviews and a few more 'agreed' and/or 'Indeeds'. As has been said before, it's Tony's site, so let him do to it what he wants. Go figure.