You can reply to people even if you're muted by OP by either replying in your inbox, or in a comment permalink where the muter isn't the root comment. There's a way to do it, I reply in kb's threads all the time. And yeah it was me, quit whining. It should be obvious I've muted you cause my posts will all say "muted here". You may think all your opinions are interesting and warrant discussion but I don't have to agree or put up with them.
No, you can't reply in the inbox. It will say, "You are muted here." If you don't like my opinions, don't listen to them. That doesn't give you the right to stop me from responding to others who asked questions. ---- First person who can describe to me how minimum's actions don't curtail "thoughtful discussion" gets ten points.