Thread/forum marking question

[Joe Blow]

Posted this over at the vB forums but can't get a straight answer.

I have recently changed from thread/forum marking option #1 - Inactivity/Cookie Based - to #3 - Database (automatic forum marking).

However, some of my users are now complaining that threads disappear from the "New Posts" list completely after being read, rather than showing up in regular, instead of bold text, indicating that they have been read.

Is there some way to use thread/forum marking option #2 or #3 but have threads that have been read still show up in the list of threads in "New Posts" in regular, rather than bold text, as they do when using the Inactivity/Cookie Based method?

I am happy to hack the relevant php files if it's an easy edit.

Any help is appreciated.