the recent threads home option displays recent posts from old and new threads. would it be possible to indicate new threads? I usually follow old threads I am interested in, so I am usually only interested in new threads.

What constitutes "new" in this context? Posted within the past 48 hours or so?

Dave, I see your point. 48 hours or so might be a good cutoff...

and if the post has no replies, the cutoff could be extended.