When we was saying that the forum design suck and don't look pretty good , we got told that this is more then likely not the last changes on the forum and there will be more so it shouldn't look like this , so are you sure that the screenshots you posted are from the final version ? Because if it's the case then I will be more then dissapointed and this is definitely not the work of a 1.5 million dollar forum .
The design has changed a bit since those images were taken. However, the theming engine is should be almost done by now.
I haven't been keeping up with the developments either was wondering though if we had a rough idea of where we are now in the development cycle and how much longer it will take, seeing how this has been an ongoing topic for a damn long time, I was wondering if we are going to be done before the next Bitcoin halving.
I'ld say that it should be at least in an open Beta by the time of the halving.