While the search functionality of these forums leaves a bit to be desired, you can search them via google by specifying site:dotnetnuke.com "search string".  There is your knowledge base.   As for the "tons of unanswered posts"...I don't have anywhere near the seniority around here as some folks, but even I can see that many of these questions would have been answered if the person had only performed a search first. 

There is no cookie-cutter, one size fits all solution for everyone.  Chances are, sooner or later, your requirements will dictate the need for functionality outside of the default DNN install.  At that point you can try to fulfill needs via commercially available modules based upon your own research.  I would recommend having someone experienced to help you do that though.  Commercial modules will save you money over hiring someone to custom code something.  That failing then you will need a gunslinger.

As for your local developer charging you $1,000 to answer questions, it sounds to me like you need a different business partner.  Contact me via my site if you'd like a free sandbox to play in for a while to decide if DNN is for you.

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Shawn Duggan MCPD
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Shawn,

Thank you for your comments.

1. Perhaps I have more time constraints than you or perhaps you just prefer searching. My impression is that a knowledgebase would be dramatically more convenient than searches. To be fair I don't know if most comparable products have one. And I certainly acknowledge that DNN's business model makes it tough to get stuff done. But that's not really my problem. I would far rather pay for DNN and get all the bells and whistles. But that's just me of course.

2. Just based on a very quick impression from the (many) pages of posts I have seen I would guess that about 20% of posts might be unanswered. This is very much higher than some other forums I have seen (and no doubt lower than others).

3. The way I prefer to operate is to actually undertake all the basic development and implementation and a fair bit to a lot of the extra development (ie creation and/or implementation of extra functionality) myself and only get gunslingers in if and when I need them. I've done that before with good results. I would be surprised if there weren't many people like me out there, and that's why I am trying to hear from some of those guys. Please feel free to link me to their websites if you know of any.

4. The amount I paid (it was actually $800, pardon my mistake) to the local developer really reflects the basicness of the long string of questions I had to ask him to remove obstacles to my continuing in reasonably quick time to assess DNN. His rate is fair IMO (there were quite a few hours involved) but of course I would rather have found these answers readily for free (or in a reasonable subscription model which I would be very happy if someone offered me - ie $Xpa for answers to an unlimited number of questions within say 48hrs plus a limited number of urgent questions ASAP but within 6 to 8 hours say).

5. Thank you for your very kind offer re free sandbox. Unfortunately I am not one of those jump in cold and play with it types (I did muck around for a few minutes only with the one on this site just to run through all its menus), whereas your typical developer, I think, probably is. I prefer to have a really good well explained view of the whole road ahead plus a few recommendations from others who I can see have done good stuff and are in a similar situation to me. Then I just make a decision to go ahead (and then just do it no matter what), or look elsewhere. No going back. I am hoping someone here can understand that.

Phil