lol in the mean time, why not just hit "home" at the top? that has the side bar you're looking for. And if the homepage is to cluttered you can minimize most of the windows by clicking the button in the top right corner of each window....
Another vote for the recent post list to return...I know I can go to "new posts," but maybe I don't want to run through them all, just peruse a few to the right on the forum index screen...