Both our students and staff have asked for the submission comments email alerts. Was quite shocked the students asked for this but they really like the comments facility.
Certain lecturers using the submission comments to...mentor the students for their submissions as such, without giving too much away within their comments.
We have found that Internal and External Verifiers like this method as the comments are date and time stamped and also views paths of communication between lecturer and students. It also shows how much intervention the lecturer has had during the students assessment.
Currently, I have encouraged our teaching staff to make their comments and then send a mobile text through using MoodleTxt to prompt them that they have feedback. Within ten minutes or so, majority of the students will access their assignment feedback. Very effective.
Some of our students have their mobile numbers connected to their email accounts, so when they are graded etc they will receive an email and a text alert.
Cheers