No, actually BBC was developed AFTER HTML.
Allowing random people on the Internet to be able to use HTML on a forum is a really bad idea. First off, a bit of malformed code can really mess up the layout of a web page. For a great example, have a look at some My Space pages.
The second problem is, allowing HTML opens up the possibility of a malicious person using HTML to run JavaScripts, seriously disrupt the forum, bypass admin security controls, etc.
You could also allow HTML, but run a HTML filter to screen out malicious code, but SMF and most other bulletin board software, takes the BBC approach instead.
Like I said before, the codes are quite similar. b=bold, i=italics, etc. The only difference is, BBC uses brackets so that the code tags are opened and closed like this [] as opposed to the <> in HTML.
BTW, someone with admin level access can still use full HTML on the forum. They just have to preface the code with the BBC tag
[html]
« Last Edit: March 03, 2008, 07:03:56 AM by cleanfun4all »
May GOD save me from my friends, I can save myself from my enemies.