Could you make a new function, then? Something similar to ignore without being ignore itself? Maybe a sort of 'exception' list that functions like ignore. Much like in IRC you can ban something and then there's an exception list to the ban list. I know that's fully an IRCD thing and not mirc itself, but the idea could be similar.
That way the ignore function serves the original purpose and remains untainted.
Also, a counterpoint I could make is right now you have an ignore switch that allows you to strip color codes and the like from a user, which is already an incoming message modification.
