Don't get too comfortable with the new style. A lot of people have noted it seems just a little on the harsh side and I tend to agree, so I'm working on something a little less modern and a little softer.
Also, I do plan on giving members several color options to choose from, so hopefully everyone will be able to pick something they're reasonably comfortable with.
As for the rep system, is was archaic and badly needed replaced. The like system is much more powerful, instantly intuitive to most people, and less prone to stir controversy. As you accumulate 'likes,' these eventually earn you trophy points. And in turn, trophy points eventually get you promotions. Exactly where the promotion system will lead us I haven't yet decided. Bear in mind I didn't code any of this stuff, it's all just default options of Xenforo.
As for Xenforo itself, it's vastly faster and more advanced than vBulletin ever was. The conversation system is a huge improvement over the archaic PM system. In addition, each member will soon have a dedicated photo album and access to a comprehensive file downloads system. The signature system is much better, you can upload much higher quality avatars, plus the forum is now fully integrated with Twitter and Facebook, making it easier to share content.
But yeah, it takes some getting used to because it's different.