When an issue is published, @mentions appear to trigger email notifications. From a user perspective, it would be highly beneficial if @mentions generated notifications regardless of the issue's publication status. For our workflow we would prefer to keep issues unpublished while they are being coordinated and reviewed internally, and to manage notifications through watchers and targeted @mentions. Having to publish issues before leaving comments in order to ensure notifications are sent introduces an additional administrative step and increases the risk of stakeholders missing important communication.
