More lenience in closing "similar threads"?

Probably the biggest reason threads are closed in sardelac is similarity to other threads. In most cases its because there's a thread on page 3 with the exact same meaning, which obviously needs a close. However, there's two cases in which I think similar threads should be allowed:

A)The "similar thread" is over 2 months old and NOT on the index of ideas. After 2 months an idea in something as fast-paced as guild wars usually remarks in the thread become outdated

B)More importantly, threads that have even a slight difference to another thread. The problem is that people generally respond to only the OP. It would be great if people could be enforced to read all the replies, but even I don't sometimes and I don't think there is a way. An example is (and this aint an attack on the mod, quite the opposite, its a mod's job to close similar threads) http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10141649 close because of http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10106644
The first talks about towns, houses, farms, workers, etc (I dont agree with this thread at all but thats not the point). It was closed because of a thread that mentioned a house. Say this person instead placed his suggestion in the house thread which is what most mods currently want. Chances are it'd get drowned out by people saying something like "/unsgined I don't liek the idea of a house". I.e. replies only to the OP.

It's something I'd like to see discussion on further. I've brought it to the attention of our Sardelac mods to get their input and feedback. It's a fine line to walk about whether or not an idea might justify being brought up every 2 months. What constitutes a "similar" thread. Just because someone rehashes and puts in a few more details might not make it different or new. I've seen people argue until their blue-in-the-face that it's a entirely different thread now. Most threads take the same course despite being brought up again every few months. Okay, so I'm just throwing out the negativity right now but I'd like to see a few more comments. I certainly see what you are saying about people only responding to the OP, not wanting to read through 3 pages of /signed or random comments to get to another great idea that may be lurking in the thread. Maybe some ideas on how to handle this?

My thoughts are if the idea is linked to in the index of ideas at the top, it can be closed. If it isn't, it should remain open even if there are several others.

One idea is if an idea is rehashed too often, make a forum just for those ideas. Like auction houses and hair stylists... but only the mods can create a thread there or move one into there and instead of getting locked, the threads are merged with the one in that forum.