1. Learn to live with it for now. Not everything is always as straight forward as you may imagine. Admin here have a load of work on all the time as well as a life outside the forums but I bet money as soon as its possible to have a feature back and running smoothly and secure it will be back
Meantime simply bookmark the thread and check it.
2. The time has always been like that as long as I can remember... does it matter...buy a clock for your desk.
Don't bump up posts in here people will see the post and respond if they feel it required