It was confusing at first.
"What's with the changes", was my first reaction.
That said, I got used quickly to the new layout and now the changes make sense to me. I think the geographic areas are better organized and so are the forums.
It shouldn't be easy to decide on the position of the Advertising section. It could go on the top, under the Start Here but above General Topics, or where it is now. Maybe the top was excluded because there's the banner anyway and it is better for the newcomers to stumble at the First Here rather than at the Ads.
I have never understood The List forum, but there must be some reason why it still exists there in the UG Diversions section.