Is it normal gold: new perks

So, due to certain circumstances, I left is it normal for about two weeks in a time period right around when the moderation system changed. I've been back for almost a week now and noticed that a post on the stories page had quote bubbles instead of a percentage next to it. Turns out that Udi listened to some people's wishes, I guess, and created a discussion only option. However, I re-read through the help content and found that discussion only pages can only be created by is it normal Gold members.

Basically, when the new moderation system came out, a lot of people thought that that took out some of the value of is it normal Gold (i.e. being able to read un-moderated posts). Now that is it normal Gold has new perks, has your opinion about it changed? (Copy and pasted below is what is typed on the is it normal Gold help page.)

"What do I get for joining is it normal Gold?

We plan on continually adding features over time. Currently you get:
•Ability to exchange private messages with other is it normal users.
•Highlighting of new comments since you last viewed a post.
•Ability to create discussion only posts with no voting.
•Immediate access to the Member Chat room.
•Add colors, bold, sizes and more to your profile about text.
•Your posts are fast-tracked for moderation. is it normal Gold members move to the front of the line if their posts have been flagged for moderation.
•Ability to view and comment on new posts that are waiting in the moderation queue.
•Access to additional color options for your username (☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻)."

Also, though the voting options are about the value of is it normal Gold, I intended for this to also be about what you think about these new discussion posts (like, are they really necessary? or should there be a new tab for them?) and what you think about the direction that is it normal as a whole is taking.

***TL;DR ~ is it normal Gold had some changes. What do you think about it now?***

Oh, and for the voting options, as a reminder, the question is: what do you think of is it normal Gold now after the new perks have been added? And, by "used to be," I mean before the moderation system was changed.