[dennisw]

A serious question: What's your thinking about my bolding some text? Making some text blue? Does this detract? I worry about people skimming and missing the important part.

[Just another Joe]

IMO, There is nothing wrong with bolding, or even coloring, text to emphasize a point. However, I agree that the aside comments are better reserved to the comments section.
I would also let readers know ahead of time that the bolding and colorizing was done by me.

[Jalapeno]

bold and color don't bother me personally. Just the additional comments because it becomes difficult to discern what was in the original and what is not, even if colored.