No, we need bump lists back. There's a reason thousands of us continue to use bump lists on a daily basis even though it's been a year since we've been able to create any new ones: Because bump lists work and keywords don't.
I'm the one that started tagging all the Columbia threads with STS107. It hasn't worked. If 50% of the shuttle threads have been tagged, I'd be surprised. And if 15% of FR knows they can go to http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/STS107 to get a list of shuttle threads, I'd be even more surprised.
I can understand why JohnRob turned them off; the list was getting ratty, full of mistake bump lists that got no use whatsoever, etc. But I've volunteered more than once to serve as Bump List Manager, and keep the list up-to-date and coherent.
FWIW, you have my agreement and support. The old bump list system was superior for research and documenting stories and events.
As far as I know, if you don't remember the title, there is no way to find anything--and that only works if the article you want is in the first 30. As far as I know, there is absolutely no way to search for a keyword. And you can't even find much by going to google anymore.