I kind of expected some changes after the site was bought out by Comico, Japan's second largest webtoon company. I looks like they're converting it into an American portal of Comico.
Yeah, I saw that too in the one forum post, but then I couldn't find anything else about it ... until now, I guess 
huh, I didn't get any update about that :s granted I just update my webcomic on there and read a few webcomics that aren't posted on tapas/webtoon and etc
Sucks to hear about it but I'll still update unless idk it becomes more ridiculous than it should be for a comic hosting site.
After all, it's 2020, most audience are teenagers and most of them probably are born somewhere after 2000. From what I've been observing, they aren't used to culture of hosting your own webcomic on custom domain. They tend to expect webcomics to be uploaded to some kind of platform and expect platform to look/ have experience more-or-less the same with whoever the market leader is. I was thinking of hosting my comics there, but....
hmmmmmmmmmmmm........... they might "import" some japanese webcomic then, and then who knows the destiny of existing webcomics hosted there. But turning into portal of Comico is somewhat possible, but somehow unlikely...?
Smackjeeves has a forum? Thats a surprise to me.
Removing the personalization sounds like a bummer. I never used it much after 2015 but with that out of the way, maybe I won't be using it too.
I dont think Smackjeeves is dead when it comes to posting and all. If Id compare it with other comic hosting sites, there are still engagements. But rather a hit or miss.
I never really used sj's forums myself, but I do have a very customized website with my own header and links. This is one of my favorite features of smackjeeves.... I am also afraid mature rated comics will be targeted because apple and verison both are very pro censorship. If smackjeeves is making an app for phone platforms, I am afraid there won't be any comic hosts that allow mature rated comics anymore. I'm afraid for SJ's future, but somewhat hopeful. perhaps a new influx of readers, and better patreon integration might be silver lining. If they have a good system for artists to provide links to other social media platforms and add their own banners and such, I might be ok with a more standardized interface. But if it's like webtoons interface I'll be pissed, cause I absolutely despise webtoon's non-customizable interface.
In the announcement, they showed there will be support for both page format and vertical format style comics which is great. It's like the only thing that will set the site apart from Tapas/WT.
Honestly, if they didn't have the page format option, I'd probably just jump ship.
Wow, that seriously looks like Diet Webtoons...although I think it's kinda nice that they allow you to choose between standard paginated format and vertical scrolling; I don't think anyone else does that.
What upsets me the most (even though I'm too dumb to take advantage of it) is the removal of customization, yet again. DeviantArt seems to be doing this, too...what's with art sites refusing to let artists be artsy?? If there's any group of people who'd really really want to decorate our pages to our hearts content, it'd be us...
I used SJ's forums a LOT when I used to try and make my Pokémon comics there, the only reason to lose it is the same as so many other sites - splitting the fanbase to make it more "digestible" for people who'll visit and never engage. Same for removing customization options.
Honestly, it's always been the third place with some benefits, if it does this I don't think it'll last. Tapas and Webtoons are already the place for comics with a homogenized layout, why would you want a third mirror that's inferior in every way? I can tell you the Tapas url to my comic right off the top of my head, not so much trying to spell Smackjeeves if I can't write it down, for starters. This also sucks to a LOT of comics that I read that have custom layouts without having to pay for a Wordpress domain, which only harms everyone involved.
Also, when do these updates roll out? Two weeks. Independent creators don't have time to scrap up money to buy a domain in that time and/or move EVERYTHING to another site, but it sure looks nice on the yearly report, doesn't it?
Ever since I got in there I've been surprised they're still up and running. The first thing I got was my original cover shoved in the mud because it wasn't family friendly, so... yeah, they received me with open arms 
I see those changes as necesary if they want to keep being alive. I mean:
- Half the comments here say "I liked this thing they're going to chop out, but I barely used it anymore"
- The big majority of readers that liked my story came to Tapas to interact more easily with me, and I go there to answer every comment and interact as much as I can.
So they better update themselves fast, or dissappear.
I guess they're really choosing between die or become a decent Tapas/Webtoon alternative, because no creator wants a platform monopolizing the market.
Not having market as the different ol'style place? May then work as the alternative of the thing that has it -shrugs-
I'm ok with the fact they needed very much an update, but:
What is really frustrating is that it looks like they are not at all taking in account all the available information out there, to try to make their update the best possible.
(With all the info available, all what's publicly discussed related to Webtoon and Tapas's etc past or current errors, etc...)
Plus I really do think there was a way to modernize Smackjeeves without making it lose its originality and special features. I'm not sure yet how complete the loss will be, but the way the update is announced makes it look like it is not at all a priority to keep Smackjeeves different from competition (even looks like everything is done to make it the most bland and unoriginal possible). May be a good business decision, adopting the lowest/blandest standard can work in some situations, but still it's very frustrating.
They just started, give them time, first the basics.
That's what means go from competition to alternative 
Customization and the custom URL were its biggest features. They could change without straight up cloning another site. Tons of site updates go through that "they'll adjust it over time" response phase but over time they just start removing old features and staying exactly the same, so there's no optimism here.
Also, why not just let some customizations stay? Like have 4 templates but you can change colors, pictures, etc. No need to force everyone into the same thing.
This is exactly it. It's not even that it's a modernization or that they're changing stuff. It's that they're flat out removing what sets SJ apart.
Everyone's gotten so accustomed to things like Tapas and Twitter where you're not allowed these changes. The ability to completely customize your template was the heart of why SJ lasted as long as it did. Without that to set it apart, it's going to fizzle into absolutely nothing.
Smack Jeeves in its current state allows resolutions higher than 940px wide, therefore comics do not look blurry on full HD mobile devices. The same cannot be said for Tapas... Therefore if SJ gets a mobile app AND retains the current lack of resolution restrictions, I'm actually hopeful about it being my go-to mirror.
This honestly looks a lot like a Tapas/Webtoon/Lezhin type of site. With "Premium"/"Featured" comics that get prioritized over all others. Basically, web comics are becoming the new print comic industry, where it's impossible to make money unless you have a big company adopting you.
Of all the places that host my comic, smackjeeves gives me the smallest audience. On tapas, I have 175 subs. On smackjeeves, I have 5.
If they want to slit their own throats with anti-creator changes it's honestly not such a big deal for me. I feel bad for people that started on smackjeeves though. The rug's been pulled out from underneath them. But honestly I bet they'd get a larger audience on another platform like tapas.
My comic use to be successful there. And I use to have good times on there however it died years ago when tapas and webtoon took over. I don’t blame them. I even stopped visiting the site and forgot it ever existed. It sucks they they are mimicking taps and webtoon however I don’t blame them. It’s a business and they have to move along with technology. They want to capture more audience and as a business minded person, I see where they are going with this.
I know so many people will be hurt by this but honestly, I don’t think it’s a bad thing.
Smackjeeves have been struggling for a while. I’m sure the owner saw a very decrease in revenue and his only option is to either join everyone else or fall into the pits of hell.
So yes, the change is a bitter sweet feeling but in the end, they have to do what’s best for them.
After this update I defiantly will be coming back. Until then, I’ll be waiting.
One of my comics does better there than anywhere else.
While I get some of the changes, I think its odd that they are removing what was creators' biggest draw to the site (and a payed feature too?). The most ominous part though is removing all the ways to communicate with each other. Some SJ users over there are all, "Ew, Tapas clone" and I have to say, no! Tapas is all about being able to communicate with readers, creators and staff both privately and in the open. I may have some complaints about Tapas, but I know if I ever have a question someone would hear me.