[Logikos]

You could do the first part with the usergroups and there permissions.

Lets say you have Usergroup1, Usergroup2 , and Usergroup3. Usergroup1 being email not verified, and once they do verify there email, it sets them into usergroup2. Set the permissions in usergroup2 to only beable to post in the introdutions forum. Then use the promotions system. Once the member makes 1 post, it will then set him to usergroup3 which can view all the forums.

That would be one way of doing that without hacking your files. As for the auto respond, someone would have to creat that.