It certainly don’t work perfectly else this topic wouldn’t have been created in the first place
So to clarify previously visiting the profile setting the status, leaving the profile, browsing the forum and still seeing the posts and then going back to the profile by clicking active links and seeing it still says the same status doesn’t actually set it?
You have to set it and then immediately refresh the page for it to apply?
It works for me, It only says ‘View hidden reply’ you just need enough self control not to view it, what I have plenty of when it comes to certain bully boys 
Of course there is:
I anyone says stuff that upsets you frequently, put that poster in your ignore list, and you never have to see their posts again! Unless you want too!
No, it is applied once you put user into ignore/muted list. I suggested to re-load the forum page in your browser if you see your actions led to no effect. As said, I find the function working as good as it was working out of the box. It has it’s downsides, I know it’s not perfect in terms of hiding everything, but it does it’s job pretty good overall.
