Apple Mail too proprietary - switch back to old e-mail app?

Question

This the second time I have tried to start using Mail over Entourage and faced lots of bugs. After importing my mailboxes (old folders) which collected mail from various e-mail accounts by various Rules.... I now can't see my old messages in Mail. What the heck? It only likes new messages and not imported ones? before I give on Apple's mail app, I would appreciate some help on the following (from experienced users who support Mail).
I emptied all unwanted/old mail off my server before the import.
I re-wrote all my rules from Entourage IN TO Mails rules.
I re-opened POP accounts for each of e-mails in Mail.
Question 1:
When the import is done, in order to make my folders look like they were before (order, color, results of mail rule actions), can I DRAGGE the folders out of the IMPORT folder that Mail brought them to the base level of the directory? IS this a problem?
Question 2:
Can I drag my huge amount of SENTmail from the IMPORT folder and drop it into Mail's Sent folder (so it looks like I sent it all from this app?
Same goes for DRAFTS?
Question 3:
Why do all the messages import to Mail as Unread Status?
Question 4:
When I sinngle click on an imported folder that has a highlighted number of messages enclosed, why does nothing show up in the message list pane? I want to see all these messages, change their status to READ and keep them in these folders for reference...but I can't see them (but they are in the folder right? Why can't I see the contents? A setting?
Question 5:
Is there a way to keep the useful "activity window" open all the time?
Doing a full import to Mail is a little like culture shock...but like coming home from a trip in Microsoft land.
Thanks for help!!
I find these boards very useful.

Answer 1

Jake,
The only mailboxes that I have actually imported, as opposed to upgrading, or physically moving, are extremely important, so I have not tested this. I will arrange to test, when time allows.
I think you could drag, and/or rename, as desired, but I want to test.
A fail safe method would be to create new mailboxes, and move or copy the messages from the current ones that resulted from import, before testing to drag. You can transfer messages to any mailbox, including any Sent mailboxes, and the messages will retain the original headers, regardless of whether sent with the account, to which the Sent mailbox belongs.
All messages in one mailbox, a group of messages, or one message can transferred. To do this, I would normally click on Edit/Select all, and then Messages, and Move (or copy), if doing all, rather than dragging.
Based on other comments in recent posts, and these comments, perhaps you can focus on a few things, and rephrase some of your questions. Keep in mind that you can duplicate the entire Mail folder, and keep the resulting copy in another location as a safe guard against mistakes.
Ernie