Description - If you're on an unactivated stage in routing and someone @'s you in the proof, you should be able to reply directly to that comment, but right now, you can't.
Why is this feature important to you - We have a few designers with specific skills that are on a File Build Check stage but if a client asks a question regarding the project to one of those designers, they're unable to respond in the proof because they're stage isn't active or their role and have to go through additional steps to correspond, mostly outside of the proof/Workfront. It seems unnecessary.
How would you like the feature to work - Just make it that if you're @'d in a comment on the proof you can respond directly to that comment even if your stage is not activated.
Current Behaviour - If you want to respond to that comment you're @'d in, you either have to have someone change your role and move you to a previous stage or you have to carry the conversation over to the project, or find a way to correspond outside o Workfront.