Isn't it better to reply to the replier when his answer is not clear to you? Wouln't that more help others reading the thread? Replies should only be made to the node you want to reply to. So whether you reply to the root node or to a node of the thread (and all of them have their own little reply link next right to them). So your argument is not very strong, eh? But don't worry, mine is neither.
And if hiding the authors name does support that then it's welcome to me.