I think you guys need to have a look as an outsider for a moment, because compared to most other Canadian cities our club scene is simply fantastic. I have friends visit me from Calgary, Edmonton, and even Toronto and they are in love with our nightlife. They were in awe when they saw that the entire street is shut down on Saturday night and there are a ton of clubs all in that same proximity to chose from. I realize we take it for granted as we see it every day, but to other people it's quite the spectacle.
The lines are certainly bad on Saturday nights, but there are ways around it. If you pay any door man $20.00 you'll skip the line. It may seem a bit steep but if you only go out so often and don't want to spend hours waiting in line, or don't want to go super early, it's a viable option.
Yaletown is really on the rise these days with many new pub/clubs having extended working hours. Hooker's Green downstairs from the New Oxford is a cool place, and Killjoy across the street isn't bad either. Both of these two places were recently granted permission to stay open until 3:00am.
When it comes to nightlife it really comes down to what you're in the mood for. In Vancouver, you have a ton of options. Personally, I find the nightlife here exceptional when compared to many other cities.