I think you just nailed the reason I use DNN.  Because I can adapt it to what I need.  The other .NET CMS/Portal/Blog/Forum/Frameworks out there are less adaptable, though many do the few jobs they do extremely well.  And I have to admit, while I don't modify the core, I do delete many of the core modules.

I can't use the menu system.  Any of them.  They are non-functional and the only one that works fully and correctly is Telerik's control set.

I can't use the forum.  It hasn't ever worked.  Period.  It does have extremely long-lasting bugs, but it never validated, always screws up and basically sucks for configurability.  Active Forums is really the only one that works correctly, and that's not perfect.

I can't use the blog module.  Even the latest version, which borrows heavily from Ventrian's News look and feel, doesn't meet anywhere near my needs.  Or likey anyone's.  Ventrian's News is a better blog than the core blog.

I can't use the announcements, documents, repository, media or gallery modules.  They are all useless and there are better ones available.

I can't use the Newsfeeds, Feedback, Survey or FAQ modules.  All of them fall extremely short.

I can't use search.  Mostly because it can't search.  Fortunately Google has the perfect solution.

I can't use the Events module.  It has had major issues for way too long.  Fortunately Goole has a calendar that incorporates quite easily as well.

Reports suck.  So do the XML module and the User Defined Tables.

The Links module is usable.  But it's too cumbersome to work with.  And the stupid LinkClick links it creates break every other week and trash any resemblance or SEO functionality.  As well as break the search mechanism.  Actually, it's also the same fault with the FCKEditor provider.

The Text/HTML module is okay.  In fact, it's probably the best functioning and most useful module.  Except for the FCKEditor issues.  Telerik's editor is far better and easier for end users to understand.

You know, I'm no longer sure why I really use DotNetNuke.  Except that I know it.  The Devil you kow kinda thing.  I can beat it into submission, though I often don't think I should have to.  Though I do seem to be making module developers rich, stimulating the economy...

Jeff

I gotta say that I don't have an issue with paying for open source.  I have never equated open source with "free" as many in the Linux world have.  When I started in the field, everything was basically open source, you bought a program and the source was delivered as well.  The source frequently had a development loop that was closed, similar to DNN, and if you wanted a different development you forked the code.  Very few people made money from code, they made money by adapting code more than anything else.

Now everyone and their brother is a coder.  They all know they can do it better, faster, stronger.  The reality is they can't, but you can't explain that.  They believe time is free.  I'll still pay for code to be written by someone else, even though I could write it myself.  My big issue with modules in DNN has always been that if I don''t have the code then I'm locked into a developer that might get hit with a beer truck.  I have rarely modified the core or any module code.  But I can.

As for alternatives, I've looked for a better option.  Commercial closed source or open source.  So far I haven't found one that meets my needs, which happen to include ASP.NET as a requirement.  But I don't stop looking.

Jeff