phpBB portal (wish they would relese some info/status on it) is going to be an awesome CMS system because it is based on the most awesome forum system (phpBB). In the meantime, modders will create mods for phpBB and for portal systems to integrate them into each other because of lack of a better solution. This modification of the CMS/phpBB will not be seamless nor will it have all of the functionality you want it to have.
phpBB should not try to make itself easier to integrate with these other CMS systems because it would sacrifice functionality and speed/effciency. Plus as previously stated the developers would come out with the next phpBB in 2050. Modders will always find ways to integrate these systems together, anyway.
Yet the most powerful and overall best CMS/Forum System will be one built for each other, such as phpBB portal or another such solution (which I do not know of, I might add, but I never really looked either).
Modders will always be out there adding features and systems to existing CMS/Forum Systems. There purpose is to add features and functionality, not to increase effciency or take into account the other missing features that also should have been integrated to make the trasition from forum to CMS more smooth.
