For all its bugs, quirks, and incompatibilities (i.e. w/ the Sharing Firewall), I've adopted iChat as my primary AIM client. The thing I miss most about Adium, though, is its efficient user interface (the auto-expanding buddy list and tabbed windows).
But I think I can somewhat put that behind me, because I stumbled across an option to reduce the size of iChat's buddy list. The tip? Use the drop-down menu in the bottom left hand corner of the Buddy List window (it's a button with three lines) to de-select "Show Pictures". I didn't find this before because the option is (strangely) missing from the "View" menu in the MenuBar.
This not only hides the buddy icons in the list, but reduces buddies' entries to one line each by placing the idle (or away or custom) message to the right of the name, instead of below it. Condensed buddy list, step right up! I get about twice as many listings in the same amount of screen space this way. Live it up in the land of reduced screen clutter.
Yes, one could always have the buddy list closed and use the MenuExtra, but it only lists the buddies who are "Available". I not only like to see who is "Idle" as well, it is also nice to just be able to glance over and not mouse up to the MenuBar. Your mileage may vary.
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20021010061404901