Let's see if I can explain it.....from another point of view.
It's done so that once a topic is started, all future posts concerning that topic will be posted in the original thread. There will be no other threads with that subj/topic.
Consider this.....
You see a thread with an interesting topic and you read the posts there. Then you see another duplicate topic thread and some posts there. Then you see 10 more, with the same topic and all kinds of different people posting replies......
Think you could keep up with that topic/discussion?
Don't you agree then that all in one thread is the most efficient way to keep up with all discussion on a particular topic/thread?
Additionally, if you are only reading in the "General Discussions" section (as you said), you are missing out a LOT on interesting discussions in other sections. You should really hit the "
view new posts" link at the top of every page every time you visit the site. Then you will see lots of stuff you haven't seen before!

Alan - ANYTHING I write is MY OPINION only.
Certified Curmudgeon - But, my German Shepherd loves me!
NRA-Life, USN '65-'69 & '73-'79: RM1
1911's RULE!