While I see your point, I'm not sure polls are the best way to do it here (if we're even considering using something other than the like system, which I think works pretty well), especially when you can't tell from looking at the discussion list that a given thread is a poll. As an alternative, I might suggest this:
http://xenforo.com/community/threads/suggestion-thread-voting-feature.363/
I
like the 'up-voting system' - it gives long-term validity to questions that may not seem important at first but thereafter, tend to grow on you...
Whilst I agree the like system has a degree of success, it is still a very insular method of attaining an overall consensus, i.e. a general opinion. A 'total amount' of likes (a total counter, dial or meter) would need to be created & viewed both in-thread & in-forum to assist in recording opinions. At present, someone would need to physically trawl through the thread & count the likes on a piece of paper.
Dean - you'll still have to count the likes, is a poll so offensive to all that its not the obvious choice? Its a painless system, just read & click. When deciding to vote for a local government, I know I don't
like him/her into a position of authority. Its the policy he/she stands for.
My reasoning for using a poll is to record opinion, allow instant access to that poll & its data & use this to assist in the development of xenforo software. I see the upvoting system as a way to promote ideas that grow & evolve within a thread thats already established.
In the gold release, I'd like to use both systems to record peoples choices. Liking & voting is becoming a large part of forum use & its a feature that will set xen aside from its weaker brethren. It'll form a huge part of my site. If these systems are not in place by default, I'll get it modded.