sigh, "make the feature list small"? Are you kidding me? Have you actually looked @ what's available from this version of phpBB?
Re: Quick Reply ... we don't add every option that's popular, that's not how things work here and IMNSHO that's not how
any project should be run. Else you end up with kitchen sink syndrome which you yourself BioAlien have
noted is not appropriate. Indeed there is at least one feature in 3.0 that I somewhat regret adding but what's done is done. I've stated my views on QR ad nauseum here and at the other place. Just as I won't add a calendar to phpBB I won't add Quick Reply. You may not agree with those reasons, that's your choice, your option. However quit telling me, us, how to maintain this project please. The way you post it appears you think we started this project last week ... understand phpBB has been around several years and maintains a very healthy userbase (despite naysayers predicting the end of phpBB at least once each year).
As for QR being "synonomous" with boards ... let's face some facts shall we. There are two other major boards, both are commercial, they compete for the same userbase. If one board adds a feature it's incumbent on the other to respond in kind ... else they risk losing some of their paying customer base. If a commercial project loses customers it risks the future of its business. We don't need nor will we play that game.
And will you please quit with the "Mod" thing ... there are no Mods in 3.0!