For anyone interested in evaluating the software I suggest using the sandbox demo extensively.

https://www.ubbcentral.com/demo.php

An interesting point about starting a message board. How long do you plan to run it? A couple years? Longer? I will tell you after running a board for almost 10 years that paying $100 to do an in-depth evaluation will be the least of your problems and is worth the money and time invested. I have bought other message board software (sorry Rick;) ) to test out for possibly switching to, and only after months and months of evaluation would I make a decision, realizing I run a highly popular highly modified board with almost 1 million posts, so a migration or an upgrade is not a minor deal.

Won't you take me to Funkytown?