At least you can use the browser you like

the bethesda forums are not worth me switching from IE

Actually I don't know if I can use the browser I like. Right now I am at work and therefore using Firefox.
You can always get Firefox with the IE look-alike themes such as https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4129 or https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4988 (along with the https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5992 for greater control)
All I know is that until a brighter more happy skin is released, I am loading my own custom CSS and scripts (Thank you Opera, for making this extremely easy to do). I do believe I even have a few of the old CSSes saved somewhere.