I've opened a ticket with ipower about the fact that the database server doesn't appear to resolve outside their local systems. I can't actually get into the databases with their dashboard 'tools' to do anything useful. I'll keep you guys in the loop with what happens once I get some direct access to dump the databases so I can use them off-site. The older forum db info would likely need to be ported into a format that the current vbulletin could use, and I wouldn't want to test that in production and have the forums all screwed up. A second vbulletin test setup on a system I have shell access to would be ideal.
As far as not really being around, since my second son arrived I'm just not around enough to follow anything consistently. I do like to read when I can but my 4 year old is very curious and I spend a lot of time doing things with him. When I'm not with him I'm with my 1 year old or trying to spend that last silent hour of the day with my wife.
I know those old posts mean a lot to you guys so I'll try to make more of an effort to make them available somehow.