Reasons: I'm a pretty firm believer that applications should keep all inputted data unless the user specifically requests that it be removed from the application entirely. I believe the best way to maintain all the post data in phpBB is by implementing a diff viewer much like MediaWiki's diff viewer for articles. I'm not entirely sure how MediaWiki does this, but it can't be too intensive on the database, can it? Plus, posts aren't edited or deleted that often. But when they are, a system like this will really help.
I think it would be advantageous for all administrators and moderators (and possibly members, but only for their own posts) to have the ability to review all revisions of all posts. This will serve many benefits:
- Too many forums have an "archive" forum so that they can attempt to keep a history of troublesome or old topics. Wouldn't it be nice to check the deletion log and view the entire details of a deleted topic?
- Keep staff members in check. Do your moderators ever edit or delete a post that you wish they hadn't? Wouldn't it be nice to revert to any previous revision of a post or bring it back from the dead? Wouldn't it be nice to see exactly what they edited or deleted?
- Does a member ever come up to you with a question about an old topic that you wish you could answer?
- Does a member ever accuse another member of posting something inappropriate, but the post in question was edited before the moderators could take a look at it?