so... how about removing the username and the wheel... just put the logo there - and the logo can change colors for notifications (if you turn it on - I like tng.'s suggestion to make this a user preference thing) But seriously - the last thing I need is ONE MORE EMAIL coming in... having a visual cue that some one has interacted with me is huge. And back when you added the 3 color system - life got.... really good. and you should add unicorns and rainbows and whatever other UX additions we all suggest. Let's make this like Homer Simpson's car. that should be a CSS setting: Homer. We've got clean, dark, etc - let's add Homer. Homer will include ALL suggestions for the user experience into one interface. It will be terrible and beautiful. And of course... we must begin with insomniasexx's favorite thing of all time: HAMBURGER MENUS. (ignore the previous paragraph - I am significantly brain fried)
Many of us use email almost exclusively, including myself. There's a number of ways the logo and the notification badge could be combined, but I think people have come to rely on clicking on the logo to get to their default feed, rather than to go to notifications. Removing the name would mean needing to add a new way to navigate to your profile. I've been thinking on this, but haven't come upon anything really satisfactory yet.
yah - I should have said "ignore this entire comment". I know there's a ton of functionality behind the stuff you've got there. I didn't give a rip about the badge counter - I just like the wheel (or anything else) I can click on to get to my notifications. Maybe I will look into email... but seriously - there are just too many already. And I think some of the zen I get from hubski is that she NEVER sends me anything. It is self contained. I come, contribute, enjoy, and leave.