Basic integration: does it work like docs say?

I chose to try PunBB based on the claim that it was easy to integrate and after looking at the docs with regard to the matter. However, upon installation (no problems) I tried to implement what seems to be fairly simple instructions in the /docs/faq page, specifically 3.3 and 3.4. This does not work, nor can I find whether these docs apply to an earlier version of the code or what. There are no "variables" in the .tpl files, just standard html tags including comments. What is the method? How about some complete examples?
The fact that the html code produced is clean (it is) and the php code is well written (again, it is) doesn't take away from the fact that something as basic as this does not work!
I'm in the know-enough-php-to-be-dangerous category, but I could not find any clues in the source.
Thanks for any and all responses!