Any chance it could be made to change color when you have 1 or more new messages? Keeping the text the same shade of yellow as when you have 0 new messages makes it inconspicuous. Had a message for over a day and didn't notice.
The best way to not miss a message is to go into your User Control Panel | Board preferences | Edit global settings and select "yes" next to "Pop up window on new private message: " This will give you a little popup window letting you know you have new mail... -D