Starting to look very good. I think the menu at the top need to be much, much, more in evidence. I did not see it at first glance, and had to hunt it out.
This is a good start. I think it should be implemented as soon as possible, with the understanding that as we/you get new/improved ideas, things can be modified. It's important to start somewhere.
Mike and SJ and others are right in that this site has survived thus far based on image-centric discussions. It is easy to see that just by looking at the active threads. The active threads here are not about gear or even technical questions, probably because there are other places where those things are featured. We need a niche. One niche that is not taken by other sites is that of discussions about the images that normal, average photography buffs take, no matter what equipment they take them with.
I should be clear, I'm not in any way opposed to a new landing page. It would be good, but I seriously don't think it will make a difference. I don't think that the decline in activity here has anything to do with the landing page - it has to do with the failure to die of DPReview. This was originally conceived as a forum to replace DPReview forums, which is a role no longer needed, except to some people who find that the particular characteristics of DP Review make it not the place for them, or not the only place for them.
The question here is how this site provides a service for photographers that is not already offered. There is answer in terms of editorial content which is well grounded in real expertise, which isn't so easy to find. Another answer is that provides the media capabilities that other sites don't provide. The second is what this thread was intended to address.
I dont think the term foot dragging is appropriate. What is worrying many of us, however, is the length of time it is taking to make the proposed changes that we all agree are a good idea, and in the meantime, impetus, active membership and enthusiasm seem to be dissipating unnecessarily by the week.
You are quite right when you say that good image display is important. When I post a set of pictures on Nikon Cafè, they look good, and this is a good incentive to post there. but the main thing is to get some feedback, on one's shots. Some the weekly threads here are doing that quite nicely. So there is a good base to build on.
BTW This forum has become a very present place to post of late, now that a couple of names have grown tired of being annoying, whilst DPR seems more bad tempered than ever, when I make a rare visit.