See discussion here
[webmasterworld.com...]
There has been a press release [pressroom.lycos.de] where Lycos states the new design results from eyetracking studies and user requests, performed by the Technical University of Bielfeld.
What really bothers me though, sorry for repeating myself here, is that those expensive directory listings don't show on regular serps anymore.
Yes, I am NOT happy about this - a few hundred pounds down the drain if they don't return and (I would have thought) a loss of extra income to Lycos! I also can't get the UK/Ireland regional filter to work at all - results are the same for regional and worldwide.