>Well, I have mine set at 1400 pixels wide and I do not find difficult to read at all, I also have some extra pixels to the right that are being wasted, that is why I think that making the message area width the same as the upper area width makes sense (which in the end makes the width equals to the browser width minus the side toolbar width).

I will increase the maximum to 2000. So, you will be able to increase it. The setting has to remain custom. I will let you know once done.