If you came to an site with the default theme for that software without any changes not even one small customisation on the design. And they still have the default logo would you stay on that site? I know many vB forums wich still have the default vB logo. And I am not talking about newly opened sites since they might not have gotten around to get an new style yet or logo.
I have seen plenty of large vBulletin forums that use the default theme with a different logo. It's not that bad, I guess, because they have the content to comprise for it. I don't think you could really get off the ground with the default theme, though.
Vbulletin or IPB - I would join the forum. phpbb, smf, mybb,,,, - I would either laugh or shake my head - and leave.
I think any community running a forum script with NO customization whatsoever (logo, colors, even membergroup titles) that have been open for a significant amount of time, is just plain lazy. The content needs to be off-the-charts awesome, and even then, that will only carry you so far. We may know to look for the quality of the posts/threads, but some random Joe or Jill who found the forum through a web search will probably not stay very long.
I think we may say that because we are admins and webmasters. The average schmo probably doesn't really care about the theme as long as it is easy for them to post on.
If the community consists of an active memberbase and an excellent flow of discussion, I'll join - the "visual appearance" is something that I critique after.
I think for vbulletin users the answer is yes (purely for it's wonder member submitted content). The official resource site to vbulletin.com runs an amazing default theme. With amazing colours, exceedingly good creativity re-colouring and dazzling inovation. Some call it the greatest modification site. Some even call it a site for inovative creative developers. Myself, I refer to it as the org.
I think with vBulletin for example, forums that are related to vBulletin - e.g. a vBulletin modification site (like CometChat for example), it's fine if it remains default. But for personal and niche-related forums, then some sort of customization really needs to be implemented, otherwise there may be an issue of some people not taking the site seriously. Moved to Graphics and Design.
Forums With Default Themes Seen Many. Still Join Em And Communicate Wtih Community. Always Nice To Be On Peoples Sites And Post A Few Of You Knowlegde, Not Depending On Members, (If Theyre Lower Than 100) Or The Style Of The Site.(Skin) Because The Skin I Based On What The Board Owner " Likes " And People Say TO Change It, Owner Would Say He/She Likes It...ETC But Default Is Nice. Can Mod It Yourself.
I've seen several large forums still using the default design, though usually they have their own logo. I don't know how they manage with such an ugly template, but they do somehow.
