I find the new forum format terrible one of the worst of any game forum I have seen yet. It totally slows down the process of reviewing and visiting threads and posting. Is there any way to return to the former format? I hope so.

Not unless Bethesda decides to change the format. There's nothing you can do.

There is already a topic with a lot of discussion in it here.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1173879-forum-background-changes/

You can always use the IP forum background - drop down box bottom left of the page.