Okay, so:

1. Congrats! You totally deserve those.

2. OMG, some old ladies are downright scary. She came back from the dead! She'll eat your brain! On a more serious note, I hope your mum gets better.*hugs*

3/1.I wasn't oppressing new authors and I resent the accusation.:P (Actually, you're the only H/D author I still read, but ssshh that's a secret.)

Your approach is very reasonable. I don't think you're doing anything wrong. Yes, new authors need encouragement and concrit both, but if you don't like giving them, then you don't have to. It'd probably do more harm than good, since no one's at their best when they do something because they feel forced or obliged to do it.:)

/2. I usually try to comment on every fic that I enjoyed to some degree, or feel I have an opinion about. Even if there were things that were less than good or downroght bad, if there was one element that was really striking or showed potential, I'd try to mention it. Like, idk, a really creative plot-twist, a great characterization, imaginative word-play, etc. Of course, if it was really really bad and pointless, or unintenionally hilarious, I just hold my tongue. But if there's a hint of talent, a hope for improvement, I'm trying to encourage it, even if the ending was cheesy, the dialogue awkward, etc. Though the ration of good:bad is important. (God, could I sound any more pretentious?)

PS: I agree with you on your priorities. Also, the fact that you go out of your way to have conversations with your commenters is one of my favourite things about you.:D