Thanks for your comments so far. Just a few comments:
1) we will NOT ban the German language, that was never an option. It's just the question if we can merge forums here. We have way too many subforums and meanwhile it's quite confusing and doubled.
2) to display birthdays on the frontpage is no problem
3) Avatars will be limited to a width of 150px max and signatures will be limited to ONE picture. I guess everybody knows why

4) the new forum software will be SMF (Simple Machines)
5) it's probably not possible to transfer the nickpages, but all other data will be transfered
6) PM will come back of course, also your old messages
7) if ALL dislike that Google finds your entries and pictures, I can turn that off

I thought we'll call the new Forum LacriWelt since you created it...
Some suggestion and questions:
- should there be a forum section an registered can only after he posted a certain amount of entries? So let's say: after 10 postings he gets access to a special subforum. If yes - after how many postings, how should we call that section and what should be in there?
- how shall we call the member level in the future and after how many postings they should be reached? I think we can cut down the levels a bit. It's currently like this:
name (postings required)
Just poppin in 0
Just poppin more 10
Newbie 135 20
Forenkenner 50
Staff Forenkenner 80
Forenkenner First Class 100
Master Forenkenner 200
First Forenkenner 300
Major Forenkenner 400
Forenhase 500
Forenfreak 1000
Major Forenfreak 1500
Forenguru 2000
Master Forenguru 2500
Forenmeister 3000
First Forenmeister 3500
Forenlichtgestalt 4000
Ok guys, please keep posting and it would be cool if you could sort out the ideas you ALL wish, so it's easier for me to follow.