Request: Thread display in a channel

Although threads are quite useful, the current visual representation is repulsive for many users. Would it be possible to modify it so it doesn't look like a reply to another message but on the bottom instead of the top, emphasise it visually and add a button "FOLLOW"? Following threads itself is very counterintuitive and they get lost among messages too easily. 

From this:

To something like this:

The "main message" could be encapsulated in the the same box in the layout for distinction.

Perhaps the invitation template could be modified and reused for new threads?