Text Messages

NewUserApplePay wrote:

How can I start over on a new "Messages" thread instead of always adding onto an existing thread to the same person or group?

You delete the threads and then create a new message.

NewUserApplePay wrote:

But the original text message has sentimental value to me. That's why I want to preserve it as is, without watering it down with trivia.

It's one or the other what do you value more and go from there, there is no creating a new thread when there is an existing one

NewUserApplePay wrote:

What a pity that Apple didn't think to allow you to preserve a snapshot in time and then start a new message like you can with email.

Text message is a phone carrier feature, not an Apple feature. Email and text message are 2 very different platforms.

There has never been that feature on any phone prior to the iphone, if you're old enough to know.