3) notify us using RSS/email/Jabber
That is too centralized/censorable/hackable, the idea with a message signed with specific private key only satochi has is ideal as it can be introduced at any node and spread trough decentralized means.
Well, most my nodes are running headless and I seldom open the GUI. So other means of notifications are still useful.
I did not understood the original Satoshi changes before he explained. So I agree now that the messages should be implemented.