I´m not really a longtime forum user, but I think, I can answer some of your questions.
1) Hm...you actually created a new thread. This thread... So there doesn´t seem to be a problem.
But maybe you tried to make a new topic in a "wrong" forum. Normal users are unable to create new topics in "Important announcements!" and "Abandonia games discussion". Users are only able to reply to already existing threads in these two fora.
2) When you create a new topic (or just write a reply in a thread) you will find a box with 3 "Post Options". There you can enable the option "email notification of replies". That shoulb be, what you´re searching for.
3) Yes, "Newbee Spammer" is a default user title. After some posts (25, I think) it will change to "Forum hobbit".
I hope, I could help you with this. (And I also hope, that the answers are correct.
)
edit: Tom Henrik was faster. <_<