Another thing is the new default skin is intended for development purposes. Certainly you can use it for production but your web site might look just like... a million other sites.

I am sure you are right.  BUT - one of the big advantages of DNN is it's low cost of entry.  There are (I guess - I don't know) lots of small sites like mine.  I run a small time site for my Volleyball club so that's about 25 of us.  It's the club's prime communication tool.  That is it's FIRST function - to let us communicate.  OK It's great if it looks good, but we really only want a functional default skin in the box.  We really don't care about looking like a million other sites.  For us it's the content more than the appearance.

So IMO it's CRUCIAL that the in the box skin WORKS PROPERLY.  A newbie is not going to be impressed as (s)he runs up the software to try out.  When (s)he finds that the menu breaks (those will be the words) it will cement the impression "Huh!  Not even the menu works right.  Where's that delete key."  There is no second chance to make a first impression.