Well, we've appealed to the powers that be to bring back the old version of chat, but so far, we haven't had any positive feedback.
So, while we hold out hope that we'll succeed in getting the old chat back, we're working on a solution to launch a new chat application by the weekend. There's some work to be done on our side, but we're encouraged by what we've seen so far, and I'm confident a solution is at hand.
For those who have offered words of support and encouragement, thanks! I know chat was a big part of our community, and it won't be gone for too much longer.