without a doubt, SMF is clearly superior to phpbb. this is my opinion and i think you'll like SMF over phpbb any day.
SMF has security supremacy. I say that because I am using it from more than 2 years. And I am not finding any security issue regarding it.
You can't compare a company to whom you pay for script who have full time employees ........... with the company which gives free script having voluntary employees!!! Still smf has been quite good and many big forums run on it!!!
SMF definately. The SMF developers don't get paid to make SMF. Even though its owned by a LLC, they sell different peices of software.
i wouldn't say that, perhaps there on even ground when it comes to security. vb offers more in the way of support and add ons. if your willing to pay for a forum package, then vb is the way to go. if you want free, then smf is the one you want.