Paul > it's exactly this.
Imagine : you do YOURSELF your forum : you create 3 blank pages
index
viewforum
viewtopic
and with only variables, you create your own forum : you don't want the header ? You don't put it in the code !!!
You don't want "suscribe to this topic" you don't put it on your page
So ... the only thing to do (and quite long) is the separation of core php and markup ... but ... A LOT TIME won for ALL users
of course, the DEFAULT template would be "YOUR" vision of PunBB, but for designer, the best way to customize VERY EASILY their forum.