Hi Bryan,
Thanks for the feedback I will definitely consider these suggestions.
I think the form alignment can basically be a skinning issue, I may need to add a css class to the inputs to make it easier to align them as you wish, there is already a css class on most of the labels so their alignment can be specified from css, but to make the label above the input I probably need to go through and add another css class on all inputs as that would enable you to put a "clear" on them to make them line up beneath the label. Right alignment I think could already be accomplished by editing the css. I agree about the colons and will make an effort to find them in resource files and remove them. I think they are used inconsistently anyway.
I think cancel links vs buttons is a good idea.
For the main 4 admin icons in the upper corner I will implement a configuration option so that it will be possible to make them "link only", but I think for some the icons are preferrable so I think it needs to be possible and probably even the default to use them as we do now, but I'm certainly willing to make it possible to configure it so its just text links. Those icons have rather long text for the tooltip currently,if you have any suggestions for English text for those I'd appreciate any suggestion for more brief text. My goal with the icons was/is to make them not affect the layout of the page, this will be difficult with long text links. My thinking has been that while these 4 icons present some initial useability issue, they are used often and once you know what they are for they become second nature and not impacting the layout is an advantage.
Other places in mojoPortal where we are using little gears and pencils I'm inclined to agree text links would probably be better.
Best,
Joe