@Jeffro I realize nested/threaded comments would be nice....

It's hard to exaggerate the value of nested comments. Whatever the issues or hangups with them, this enhancement should be getting a larger slice of the priority-pie.

Visitors love nested-replies. I believe that nesting especially makes the newbie or novice more comfortable & confident, and materially helps with recruitment. (WPTavern itself is a notable example of the website with huge exposure and high viewership ... which does not translate into commensurate recruitment.)

Nested or threaded comments are also of great value to the website, and to the Post author. Especially with lots of comments, and where they consist of substantive Content. Nesting provides much-need "structure" to flocks of comments, and it aids in navigation through them.

Nesting introduces a virtuous-circle of self-reinforcing comment-value enhancements.