Jack,
I never use those links, I just click Home and look the boards with new messages, click the board link and then the topics with new messages and read them, then click again Home and proceed to the next board and topics, and so on.
It's maybe possible that you are right, maybe that function is not working right because it uses a search script that is not working correct, try to do the way I do and tell me if it is better for you.