While I agree that "following" was creepy, and I have added the custom CSS to turn it off (thanks)---I DO wish there was a way that as ADMIN I could follow certain posters.
"Following" had an administrative function too: A member of our Board was following me (the paid-admin) to keep track of what I was posting so she could report to the board that I was worth the BIG BUCK$ Now I will have to prove it otherwise.