I think it would be a good idea to change the text on the button that is on every post that says "reply" - I know I was using it for awhile thinking it was the only way to reply and thought that the quote was just an automated thing... But then I noticed the button that says "new reply" at the very bottom of the thread...
I believe this will cause some confusion in the future if it has not already caused confusion...
My suggestion is to change the text on the 'reply' button to 'quote' the way it used to be and make the 'new reply' button just a smudge bigger so that it is noticed more easily - it took me like 3 days to notice it... ...