Well, I decided to replace topic.asp with the original version and the replies started displaying properly again.
Guess it was an issue with PM
Turns out the Personal Message directions forgot to include the fact that you need to not just insert rM_PM = 6, but also increment the rest of the below items up one number. putting the index off if you don't.. heh.. well.. thanks for the help!
Your silence was very motivating. 
intI = 0
rM_NAME = 0
rM_RECEIVE_EMAIL = 1
rM_AIM = 2
rM_ICQ = 3
rM_MSN = 4
rM_YAHOO = 5
rM_PM = 6
rM_TITLE = 7
rMEMBER_ID = 8
rM_HOMEPAGE = 9
rM_LEVEL = 10
rM_POSTS = 11
rM_COUNTRY = 12
rREPLY_ID = 13
rFORUM_ID = 14
rR_AUTHOR = 15
rTOPIC_ID = 16
rR_MESSAGE = 17
rR_LAST_EDIT = 19
rR_LAST_EDITBY = 19
rR_SIG = 20
rR_STATUS = 21
rR_DATE = 22
if CanShowSignature = 1 then
rM_SIG = 23
end if