The new header bar/section doesn't add any new utility, functionality, or aesthetic to the site and the overwhelming majority of it is dead blue space Having the side pane being hard-locked without a fold-away or low-profile mode was already cutting into the visual space, but now with the thick header just makes the viewport feel cramped, small, and squished. EDIT: According to a comment by Nicou, this is a "Step in streamlining UX by replacing the left pane" https://robertsspaceindustries.com/spectrum/community/SC/forum/3/thread/new-font/7537643 I personally do not think that a top nav-bar would be more effective nor more streamlined than the current left pane is. On computer monitors in 16:9 or especially 21:9 and 32:9 aspect ratios, vertical real estate comes at much more of a premium than horizontal space. Having the left-pane navigation is also much more common and intuitive for the Web Forum format of navigation compared to the regular website model of dropdown menus. All the current sidebar really needs is a minimize/drawer fold toggle for increasing visual real estate when the navigation pane is not in use. If you really want to get "fancy" with it, give it an onHover pop-out functionality for quickly navigating to a bookmark or DM then automatically folding the pane back away