You have raised several questions with regard to the impact of deer on oak regeneration, (herbaceous) ground cover, and striped maple. I will try to provide some insight and hopefully not incite more controversy as to protecting forest ecosystem integrity and function.
First, I am a plant pathologist with training in forestry, turfgrass pathology, ornamental plant pathology, and forest pathology. Additionally, I have had training in microbiology, animal parasites, pathogenic microbiology (human and domestic animal infectious diseases), domestic animal nutrition and physiology. Although I have had exposure in many areas of biology, I remain cautious in that there are many factors which influence our not-so-natural environment. Our forest resources reflect several centuries of disturbance and exploitation; therefore, one must be able to see both horizons when examining the many issues and influences that have created our present forest conditions.
Now, I am inclined to say that the present situation with regard to forest regeneration and deer is clearly complicated. Deer consume plant materials of which red oak, sugar maple, hemlock, red maple, white ash, and white pine are highly desireable tree species that have high economic dollar value to humans and palatability to deer. High deer populations, in my view populations in excess of 17 deer per square mile (640 acres per square mile) are exerting a significant impact on the understory plants in many forested areas. The impact on advanced regeneration of desireable tree seedlings and other herbaceous or shrub layers has been well documented in the scientific literature. However, insect and diseases affect seedling survival as does drought or excessive soil moisture, and previous disturbance events due to natural causes (i.e. windstorms, ice storms, drought, and fire).   I think we can agree that predicting responses to the above stressors is difficult, but describing responses requires skillful observation over time by folks with expertise and interest in teasing out the particulars. It is not easy to cover all the bases, but we must cover one base at a time and then assemble the accumulated information to provide a reasoned diagnostic based on a variety of scientific disciplines.
I am not trying to be overtly academic, but the deer - hunting - forest regeneration - ecosystem health issues are volatile and complicated.
Where we have used a deer exclosure (a fenced area to keep deer out) there is no question that ground cover and desireable tree species seedling survival and advance to a seedling density and size can insures survival and retention to form a new forest stand. Factors such as light availability, soil nutrition, soil moisture, and competition for space affect tree species performance and survival. Striped maple is adapted to the very acidic, highly leached soils, mesophytic (well drained to moderate soil moisture conditions) of the Northeastern U.S. Striped maple is shade tolerant and can produce seed crops every year but seed viability may be highly variable. The species is generally short-lived (40-70 years) but due to reproductive potential the species is likely to always be prevalent in the mid- to lower understory and colonize gaps due to overstory tree removals or windthrow. Striped maple is palatable to deer but the species has tremendous seed production capabilities over time and therefore is likely to survive even under high deer browse conditions. Striped maple is subject to breakage and coppicing following ice storms or heavy snow events. The species sprouts readily and forms dense clumps, the species grows rapidly and easily grows beyond the deer browse height of 4-5 feet. Because of the heavy shading due to coppicing and the dense foliage distribution along the stem and branches the species produces a heavy shade environment that impedes seedling establishment and advancement of most hardwood tree species, only beech seems to be more shade tolerant.
So, I hope I am not being too academic but poor soils (soil acidification), deer browse, seedling diseases, competition from other plant species for light, moisture, and nutrients, production of viable seed and establishment of seedling cohorts (a cohort represent a seedling population established during a particular year; multiple seedling cohorts are generally required over a period of time to ensure seedling survival and advance to the sapling stage) play a role in whether our hardwood forests progress.
Lastly, I am not a hunter...I stopped hunting years ago when some friends shot at and one was blinded in one eye. Alcohol and poor judgement were factors but I simply lost interest. This is not to say that I am against hunting, I support the hunt and would hope the more private lands would be open for hunting...this is a delicate issue but clearly the balance between proper deer densities in the right places at the right time will promote both forest regeneration and hunting demands on the resource. Deer are needed to provide browse pressure, therefore densities between 8 to 17 deer per square mile in forested zones are likely to provide an appropriate level of browse pressure and ensure forest renewal. Areas where habitat openings can be encourage will frequently support higher deer populations, high density, mature forest cover will support lower deer densities.
The history of deer population advance and decline goes hand in hand with the history of forest exploitation and recovery. It is complicated but clearly we have learned a great deal in the past 60-80 years (actually over the past 1200 years)...I dare say that we will learn more in the next 60-80 years. I do know that as human populations grow in number and that loss of forest land to other land uses ( residential or commercial development, etc.) that there will be further complications of deer availability and hunter opportunity.
Lastly, I would like to clearly say that as we lose forest land, or grasslands, there will be an ongoing risk of exposure of humans and wildlife to a variety of diseases that could have significant impacts on both communities. Declines in water quality and availability are likly, contact with remote species associated with natural ecosystems will become more commonplace and outbreaks of new diseases could be more frequent. The pending bird influenza concerns in SE Asia, SARS virus and it's recent association with bat populations in the forests of SE Asia (this is a new report that has not yet received much press), prion diseases and chronic wasting disease or "mad cow disease", ebola virus outbreaks in Africa, etc. are just a few examples of how fragile our forests at the edge of human mediated disturbance. Recently the risks of varied health problems due to increased contact of humans or domesticated animal species with wildland species will continue to be an important issue to follow.
I hope my ramblings are not to inflamatory, I am simply trying to emphasize the need to have a broad horizon view with regard to all of the issues associated with natural resource managment, conservation, and preservation. Thank you for your inquiry.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas Hall
PhD Plant Pathologist
Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry