I'd have to say that the separation of developers (meego.org) and users/contributors (talk.maemo.org) was a very bad thing, imho for the N9.

People were rewarded here, talked about their exploits there and if you didn't follow both, you got only half the story, if that.

The downloads, the development news, the company line(s) of communication and forum participation all need to be under one roof.

Same level of banter will happen there, or should happen as it does here at ITT/TMO. Through those discussions, "a-ha" moments have arisen where the developers feed off of the needs of the users. Separate that and you end up with a sterile environment where things are offered and nobody really wanted it.

Keep the karma system. Kill all karma in the discussion areas that veer into off-topic. Allow heated discussions like the mods do here - they're rather transparent but effective.

Have some explanations of the pieces - they're not understood of how Mer + Jolla + Nokia + Qt + whatever else adds up unless they're more than just a casual user. Lower the entry point, talk about the freedom of what that above combination would be. Have activity, sans attitude, of XDA. Love the forums, love the output, sometimes can't stand the holier than thou attitude at times.

Finally... keep the faith of the user by communicating from the company to the users. Not at the user. Tonality is a key issue that needs to be addressed early on.

That's my take. I want a place like TMO. I know what's new for downloads, what's happening in the forum, I can check to see who's karma is worth a damn, I can see the community council statements and movements, I can chat with folks of like (or dislike) minds and can witness what the company or movement is doing first hand and I can test out things.