I've been speculating as to why all this functionality has been removed from the system. Perhaps because it would require extra support for developers to hook into an AP for notifications and history. Therefore they decided to just offer a consistently watered down experience instead.
Anyway, WP8.1 is feeling so much better. I appreciate it even more after running WP10. If my boss or children message, email or call me I know right away and I don't have to manage notifications from several different apps. That is people centric design, not some stupid circle.
I fear WP10 is becoming an app launcher.