Older Posts Notifications

Fairly new here but I had a few ideas come to mind that I wanted to bring up and possibly answered or explained.

I have noticed more than a few posts come in and then quickly someone else has pointed to past similar topics to show the answer. I like that for the point of trying to eliminate duplicates and so both can be answered without repeating as much info. BUT, how are noobs and even some experienced members suppose to know or search through and find that similar topic(i know you can search to find past topics).
My point is if lets say every question gets answered tomorrow, then this would no longer be a forum but just a reference guide. So I am just suggesting that CCF create a section for the common questions or create an easier way for the newer folk to find their answer from past topics(combine and generalize topic subjects).

Another thought that came to me to post this was that I responded to a post from awhile back, I think the topic started in '09ish and was very interesting and helpful, but I noticed that the older posts in my topics get deleted after so much time, and I get that, I am just wondering what will give the author of that topic any clue as to newer posts being added the original, some in which are looking for more answers on that topic. As I am writing this I am thinking I know the answer that I should of saw and didn't put 2 & 2 together before typing.
But here is the question: Is there a way to be notified if you author a topic and someone responds, say 6 months later?(My guess to the answer is that it would show back up in your MyTopics list?) And to add to that, members with a lot of posts might not be able to easily find topics they authored in their MyTopics and I would like to suggest a new section be added to group together just topics that you have authored instead of being mixed in with other topics you have commented on.

Sorry for this being so long and thank you for looking over this.