I have seen the results of the AutoSplit function, using data from my live site and the results are awfull. I have some very popular subjects with over 5.000 posts. When you go to that particular forum, you see subject - part 150, and below that 149, 148, etc. All other posts just get burried and are getting less interest because of it.

The reasons for intruducing this functions are not logical, or at least the result of brainstorm session that ended badly. Pagination is a much better solution see more and easy to introduce.

When a post is deleted, it does not mean you have to delete the post, you can also update it with a message saying that the post is deleted. In this way, you can use pagination, without having the issue that post are no longer found on the page you expected it to find.

The solution is so simple and would also work for topics made before this function was introduced. I know this comment is a bit late, but it's never too late for positive changes!