Paul,
As far as I know the new software didn’t drop any of the functions of the old forums. It improved most and added quite a few.
You’re almost certainly not the only user to have assumed that something isn’t possible on the new site and just changed their habits. On the one hand, change is sometimes a good thing, on the other I can’t tell if someone hasn’t understood something unless they ask.
So, ladies and gentlemen, If there is something about the new site that you’re struggling with, please have a look in #user-guides-and-how-tos to see if your question has already been covered, and if it hasn’t then start a topic in #site-feedback. I try to answer questions as effectively as I can, and I won’t ridicule anyone who has missed the obvious. (ok, not much.)