I agree. I am absolutely in love with this forum and would love using it to build my site community on, but unfortunately even the simpler-than-Discourse install is still a bit too much for me right now, not to mention customization.

Stumbled on this unique variation a little earlier and thought it even kind've loaded like something you'd see on NodeBB.

Wasn't sure what the devs here had thought about some sort've #hashtag functionality, but here's one idea.

http://hashtag.handypress.io/hashtag-wordpress-post-relative-links-demo/

Very valid points, gentlemen, thank you.