I agree in large measure with Solonaut. So much configurability and user customization, a tweaker's delight.
If that's what you're in to and want to spend a lot of time with it. And then keep futzing with it. It's remarkably adept at allowing for that.
But if you just want a music manager and player and don't care about the width of columns or the placement of panels or the just-right html color code on your scrollbar, then it's overkill. I'm glad I discovered MB in the 2-version era when it was a LOT simpler to get started with.
Many, many opening posts by newcomers to the forum reflect some of this befuddlement expressed in the posts above. The potential to be overwhelming is great in the latest version. It seems as though many find it extremely difficult to use out-of-the-box. Can't find stuff, many terms are not obvious to what they refer, a click gives an unexpected result.
These are all issues that the core group of dedicated members have been answering over and over. They're (you're) a good group of fans and over and above in the willingness department. But the system you're helping with is problematic in the ways described. To be honest, a lot of what has changed from 2.5 to 3 seems to me to be change for change's sake.
Upon install, I think there should be a Basic and an Advanced version that can be displayed/selected by the user, with the Basic mode as default. Get somebody up to speed and comfortable. Then press the "Advanced" button and use it as a sandbox then to screw around with and see what does what. It it goes south, revert to Basic and have it look like it did before.
Or something. I don't know. But look at how people get confused or lost...that's a red flag. You have to appeal to the lowest common denominator of experience and patience.
I think MB is great--the library system, the database-like backend, the tagging tools, and player. I'm not changing; I am, however, staying put at 2.5.5804. That was the sweet spot for me.
I'm trying to be constructive and offer an assessment of someone who mostly lurks now, watching from the sidelines. None of this should be construed as gratuitous criticism. It's only that I see all the options and tweaks as overcomplications to an already complete product. How many cupholders, seat adjustments, and ride levelers do you need, so to speak.
The forum, on the other hand...totally in need of some modernization.
Looking forward to that.
Edit: Stefan posted while I was composing. I second the notion of in-built layouts. We were on the same track there.