Not quite. The scenario is this, you log on, notice 200+ posts and only have chance to scan 50 of them before you have to log off again. If you then log back on again you don't get to see the other 150+ posts as the New Posts method only shows the new posts (ie those which have been posted since your last visit, which when you didn't read the other 150 posts).
Also running an advanced search for posts since a period of time (ie yesterday, your last visit, etc) all require that you put a specific item in the text search field.