Why do columns change to default (un-editable) when searching in Mail

When I search for something in Apple Mail, for some strange reason, it dismisses the columns that I have chosen and reverts to the arcane versions, including "Buddy Availability" . So even though I control-click and uncheck the "Dummy Availability" column and check something useful like "Attachments", which does make sense when searching for an email, it forgets them next time I search. Why would anybody need to know their "DUmmy Availability" when searching for old emails? Stupid mail program, stupid mail program. Did Apple actually make this program or buy it from another company and have not gotten around to making it useful yet? OK, so I have dissed it but still want to use it since I have an iPhone and all that. SO is there a way to just banish "Sweetcakes Availability" from Mail?