I don't think threads should be restricted to just staff. Half the time members can answer your questions just as well.
Anyway, for question one, if the option isn't already there (which I'm pretty sure it isn't, not that I've looked very hard o_O) then it means it isn't built-in to the system. Seems pretty weird to me that something like that wouldn't be, but I don't see it. You'll have to just keep checking in.