Thanks. I think my approach keeps it simple, minimises the workload for the mods in terms of constantly moving threads around, allows discussion as well as complaints to be aired, and separates out the true development/progress discussion entirely. There is no way the forum will, or for that matter should, dedicate a subforum to any one manufacturer. Validating what is real from what is going to be real from what is vapour and what is scam is not the job of the forum mods.
I don't see why it should be hard to separate threads based on products that exist vs products that do not exist. Mods are already able to tell GPUs from ASICs and FPGAs. It shouldn't be too hard to observe that a trusted third party verified a product actually exists and is no longer mere speculation.
I think the forums should be separated based on the sort of discussions likely to take place in them, not necessarily by vendor or hardware type.
Forum 1) For not yet real products and absolute vaporware products and any scams from vendors can coexist in the same forum since any discussion would be speculative and not grounded in observable facts. KNC products, BFL Monarch, CoinTerra product line, etc belong here.
Forum 2) Products that are shipping (vendors can afford to ship one unit through a trusted escrow for verification) can have their own forum. This is where conversations are limited by verifiable facts and the laws of physics. There is little room for speculation and thus little room for argument. Avalon, ASICMiner, BFL Jalapeno/Single/Minirig, Bitfury, etc belong here.
Forum 3) DIY/FOSS community projects really need their own forum, separate from vendor specific hardware. With a little peace and quiet, they can accomplish great things!
Forum 4) A forum for customer relations & vendor discussions. Need a refund, lost a shipment, vendor is late, vendor is great, etc. This is going to be more of a review style board (a la YELP) where the content is mostly opinion based and subjective. "Vendor was nice to me" threads, lawsuit threads, "I got my order" threads, "I want a refund" threads, belong here.