Why don't we get email notifications?

That would be up to the person who runs it. This isn't my area of expertise, so I don't know how much work it would be to add that function, but I would DEFINITELY be in favor of it.

The other thing I would like to see duplicated from the previous site has to do with text changing color after you've read it. The thread titles would change color after I'd clicked on them, and within the threads, the reply posts would do the same. This is important because I frequently go back into a thread to read the new posts, but it's difficult to tell where I left off.

Supposedly Jeff added that. I can see when I have someone responding to me if I look at that little bell in the upper right, but frankly, I don't want the Emails clogging my inbox. I get enough Emails without that. You can probably go back to your settings and see how you can add them.

If you go to your account (click on your name on the upper right hand corner), there is an option to get email notifications. But you have to turn it on.