Thanking people for comments...

I have set it up such that I get an e-mail each time I have a new comment. It is also easy to keep track of recent comments by going to "My Author Page" and click "Comments"

I have the same system - and don't mark those emails as read before I reply... Which means I will have hundreds of unread emails in that account until I get to clicking on all of those unresponded to comments.

The only time I really get behind in thanking commenters is after a challenge, since they get more than a typical number of comments, and all released all in one fell swoop. (Also I don't think we get emails about those.) Otherwise, I do like Alef -- I get emails and then I go to Comments on my Author page to find them and comment. If I'm not sure if I replied, I can check via My Messages in the menu.