Well I suppose, like many features hidden in programs on the computer, these thread prefixes would be a great tool if I used them properly. And by all means they should stay, if people are making use of them to gather their thoughts together or helping to search for things,....
but I am pretty slow on the uptake, and usually click on the prefix instead of the thread... I then try to think for a minute where have I gotten myself, before going back to click on the actual topic. Therefore, until I start to use them correctly, I find that I agree with Oz that they are a distraction.
I am sure I will get better at it, but if no-one uses a feature it becomes clutter.....
But it may be treasure to the next man
thanks for your efforts Mike.
KH