Have you considered putting pagination links at the top of the threads as well?
This middle-state is frustrating even for me as a long-time user who knows about the more button.
The challenge is finding time to work on the code.
Of course you've said a proper solution is being designed, but in the interim, it's a bit masochistic for us to have to scroll to the bottom of the page just to click through to the next page when the "More" hyperlink could also be added to the top of the page.
FWIW, I've suggested this change before [0], but nonetheless thanks for all you do.