Do you like pidgin? Do you like commandline? What if i tell you that there is a IM which uses libpurple, is like pidgin but commandline? Cool, right? Well its finch. You can install it like:

apt-get install finch

and run using finch. It has a configuration file called ~/.gntrc where you can tweak its settings. Rest install it, check http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/Using%20Finch and explore it yourself, i bet you will love it. I run it inside a window called finch in a screen on our server, that way i never go offline :D .

My ~/.gntrc:


[general]
shadow = 0
mouse = 1
wm = /usr/local/lib/gnt/s.so
remember_position = 1
small-button = true
[Workspace-1]
name = BuddyList
window-names = buddylist;debug-window
[Workspace-2]
name = IRC
window-names = IRC
window-titles = IRC
[Workspace-3]
name = IM
window-names = conversation-window
window-titles = Preferences;Pounce

PS:
Yes, bitlbee and irssi are good but i am way too used to pidgin.