Hi again.
You won't be the only one around here wanting all those features. Most of the real experts are already testing the beta.... and finding out what they'll need to do to get all our most important hacks updated.
So, once vB3 goes gold, it shouldn't take very long before we'll be able to install the custom features we want most ....... once again.
Besides, I can't see ever losing email messaging completely. It's always easier to (discretely) glance at an email copy of a forum post or PM from your mailbox while at the office than it is to visit the site online.