"Might it be possible to have the default display on the Personal Page with perhaps only 50 messages (but having the "display all" option would facilitate [CTRL-F] searching, so that option should also be available)."

I wouldn't mind that - better for dialups too. Sometimes there CAN be good reasons to hang on to old messages - it helps you remember WHO generously sent you (without any expectations of any return!) that wonderful book on trams 5 years ago, for instance... :-)