So you should come back to ver. 1.3 It's enough functions for you!
Facebook does have the chat bar, but all members still working, posting and viewing profile, photos blabla while chatting !! Is it useless ? No - It is useful.
Instead of pm system, we can send instant message if your friends online, It's easy and save a lot of time ! Vbulletin have that function v1.0.1 very cool with less bug, but in testing !
With chat bar function, there is 1 more choice for admins who don't use Shoutbox. And members may love to add friend (at least we can use chat bar if we are friend - i don't think friend function can do something else - make friend and just friend ??).
And you said members won't post on the forum if we use this chat bar ?? No Shoutbox does, not chat bar !! I would like to see and join topics, not only chatting with friends all the time. Just see chat bar - Find out friends online and say hello - Did you see my post !! Or Long time to see, well come back - It more meanful, power, fast, easy and fun then PM to that member and waiting for the next time he online