Regarding new messages cover i can at least see where they are coming from. It has greatly improved in readabillity.
All caps is a no-go and coming up with a cover that now looks inconsistent to all the others totally spoils the effort though.
Maybe we should come up with some mock-ups of how we would like it and still have better readabillity?
Starting ignored tjc-questions regarding design decisions is one of my hobbies.

Salamander may be the name someone gave to that red?