Kids these days.

could we also get some way to keep track of new posts, last read post, threads I made a post in etc. etc.
As it is these forums are very cumbersome to navigate and keep track of the threads that actually interest you.
Many other forums have these features, so why not get with the times and have them here also.

Isn't it obvious?

Being able to see fleet affiliation is important upon discussions in threads; For example when a certain fleet wades into a thread to flame someone.

Being able to see ingame level is also important for discussion (e.g. a level 70 player going into a BB6 test server thread complaining about how the IJN BB6 should be able to armour whore).

Seeing a primary nation/highest level nation that a player selects? Not only useful for data collection, but useful to see when people want their nation buffed. Would be nice if there was a player profile you can click to see ranking stats and achievements that SDE are bringing in. (A nice idea from mkzblaster which I will put in my main post).

Being able to see what server they are from; E.g. Someone from Kaiser complaining about an event on another server.

On top of that, you can have a new player forum where you can actually identify new players and help them.

Okay I can see nation and fleet, but level is just a way for players to discriminate against each other.

And people that flame get punished by the forum rules. People that use it for legitimate reasons will benefit. On top of that, you can use it to help new players, and be able to explain to a player that is level 89/90 that he needs to have played a BB5/6 consistently to be able to say if a ship is terrible or not.

Flames burn stuff, even if they are put out, the damage is done.

Better to stop them rather than provoking them.

How on earth does it provoke them? The data is already available, and it makes it easier for people to make valid points and help new players. The benefits outweigh the costs; the costs being a few minority of players that will make baseless flames, and the benefits will be identifying new players and helping them, while improving game balance discussion.

Any 'point' made by citing another player's level is clearly an ad hominem.

What I've seen from forums with stats such as either from gameplay or some arbitrary leevel is that higher 'level' posters are worshipped by everyone such that they can get away with saying something clearly wrong. Also, lower level players get ignored even when they bring valuable criticism or information to the table. For example, premium hedgehogs in blitz was brushed off as an issue of 'noobs being noobs' until recently.