OK, I asked for someone to change my mind, and I that has happened.
My concerns about the message thing have been allayed by the helpful explanations of what it does & is used for. Everyone who mentioned ICQ, e-mail whathaveyou, you are absolutely right.
Looks like my other main concern (reverse order of posts) can also be easily fixed, so thumbs down changes to thumbs up!
See, I'm not stuck in my ways, oh no!
------------------
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.
Epona of The Laughing Hyenas.