That does all sound good... we'll just have to make the decision to go with the new PHP or keep using the old PERL. I've chosen to stick with PERL, and liked the PHP as the option waiting in the wings if I ever saw the need.
I wonder how the automated upgrade scripts would handle modifications. []/testimages/icons/laugh.gif[/] I wouldn't expect them to work together, since it usually takes me at least 4-5 hours to convert the modifications to a new version as it is. I think that's why a lot of us are still at 5.0.9 or 5.1.something. Not sure if that process can ever be improved... no matter how much time Araxis merge saves us! But that's really our problem and our choice, not something you need to worry about.
So the "new posts since last visit" will be a cinch in PHP... right?! []/testimages/icons/wink.gif[/] []/testimages/icons/wink.gif[/]