I guess you guys get a bunch of newbies around here...
I have done everything that I understand to be right... but documentation gets a little fuzzy for the end part.
I have my email stuff setup for CDONTS... it works for registration and password reset emails.
I set up the settings to allow subscriptions to the topic level. I then set that categorie/forum to allow for subscriptions. Never get an option to subscribe. The only time I have gotten an option to subscribe is when I set the main setting to allow subscriptions to the forum level then set the categorie to allow subscriptions at the forum level. But the subscription doesn't seem to do anything.
I do agree though, it takes a bit of figuring out the first time, largely because you can very precisely control what can be scubscribed to and what cannot be.