those are some good ideas
Some more things that can be done:
remove all the extra buttons and links across the top of each post and remove the stuff along the bottom of each, as well as a lot of the stuff in the author column.
add the quick reply mod so they don't even have to go to another page to reply and you're most of the way there for the threads.
Show all topics in the forums and remove the drop-down box that gives them a choice of 'days pruned'. If you
really want them to be able to search, give them a 'quick search' box in its place.
hmmmm... more stuff too
