Co-signing most of the feedback above. I really enjoyed popping in to the old forum, easily finding the categories I was interested in and browsing well-ordered discussions. This forum is so very "cold" and random. After YEARS of being a member of the old forum, I'm no longer inclined to visit at all and will see what comes about in a few months. I hope EA will not just "listen" to member feedback, but USE it to every extent possible.
P.S. And my rank!! "New Spectator"... Geez. Even in something as simple as a user forum, losing "status"/rank is such a bummer (just a psychological thing; nothing serious).