Content $type variable in node.tple.php prints machine-readable name, not human-readable name

I'm not sure what you mean, what variable is this ? I can't find any similar thing in node.tpl.php
Do you mean the node-type class ?

No, not a class, the variable "$type" in node.tpl.php prints out "forum" or "blog" or "story", etc. I'd like a variable that prints out "Forum Topic" instead of "forum", "Blog" instead of "blog", etc.

Hey Steve, you're traveling!!
Get out of Drupal.org !!!

Well, can you tell me how to do it? "Easy" is a relative term, depending on how much you already know.

You could use this simple snippet for replacement, but you will have to declare each type (meaning, adding each type case and its replacement) :

  	  <?php if ($type) {
  	    if ($type == 'story') { echo 'Story';}
  	    if ($type == 'blog') { echo 'Blog';}
  	    if ($type == 'forum') { echo 'Forum Topic';}
  	    } 
  	  ?>

Makes sense ?

With that, do I only need to put that chunk of code in the template once, and then every case of $type would give me the altered version wherever $type is within the template, or do I have to put that in the place of every instance of $type in the template? I was hoping to avoid the later, but I can work with the former. Ideally it wouldn't have to be manually edited when I create a new content type, but if that's my only option it'll work.

Yes, you would have to create a case for each possible type.

That's not what I meant. I meant in the template, would I put those type definitions in only once, or would I have to put that chunk of code in anywhere in the template that the $type variable is placed?

This chunk of code is really just a string replacement. So if you want to output the $type variable two time, yes, you'd have to put that chunk two times.

Thank you! I knew something straight forward like that had to be available somewhere!