Much as I love XF as a software, I'm left amazed at stuff like this. I'm sure it wouldn't take Kier or Mike that long to create a system allowing us to import XF data from an existing XF install into a brand new one in a clean and easy way.
What if I don't have a VB or IPB license? How do I import/merge an existing XF forum into another XF forum?
This is like Microsoft telling you to move all your data to a Macbook/iMac before you move your data onto a new version of Windows or a new PC/laptop. There's no good business model that advises you to use your competition to complete basic tasks!!
What happens if the next version of IPB or VB is pretty good? Most forum owners tend to be lazy and once they have a software they stick with it but if we're being forced to transfer all our data to VB/IPB anyway then it's actually easier to just stay there rather than go to all the trouble of then converting it back to XF again.
I really think KAM should make this a priority. Stop asking your customers to use your rivals products just to stay with your product!!
That's like Tesco asking it's customers to put all their shopping in a Tesco trolley then go to Sainsbury to get their shopping bags and then go back to Tesco to buy their shopping and take it home. IE it makes no sense.