For 99.9% of people the current system works fine so I think it's fine.

How do you know that? So, because no one has (or I'm not the only as you say) complained about a rule, that means it's a good rule and shouldn't be questioned?

Not sure how letting someone know you pm'd them is "useless" or with "no purpose". The purpose clearly is there. How exactly do you expect anyone to talk if you can't say your Skype name or that you messaged them on Reddit to let them know about the Skype name?

We're all for people having conversations in the comments but pointless comments having conversations pointless

Isn't the purpose of the internet for people to have conversations? I mean unless it's just blatant trolling or spamming, but if someone is saying something, there's probably a purpose behind it.

Getting lots of pm's and getting it's confused with who's Skyping you is the same as getting lots of comments and getting confused with who is Skyping you. That is only if you're some super popular person and getting so many Skype friend requests and/or messages, but the posts here don't indicate popular people post here.