Can I suggest that there be an option added whereby the Admin can set a maximum number of characters for 'status' updates.

or better yet, if you could add the standard editor (in version 1.7) so that users can format their status and so that the "newsfeed" shows up formatted and not as one big bunch of words, with no spaces etc etc.

The plugin works great as is, just these two changes would make the world of difference and make the "Status" and "Newsfeed" = PERFECT!

I hope this suggestion gets looked into, I sincerely believe that these changes (updates) would make the entire experience for users something that just beats going to any other social site out there.