^Yes, because it is much more (socially) encouraging to comment, if the repo would get a multi-way-communication (user<->maintainer, user<->user)! Currently for an ordinary user: Write into the system and leave it. Maybe check back later, but hmm, which apps did I comment on recently…? You see, this way it's a lot of manual effort, and thus not often used!
It should be similar to the functionality here on the forums — with the given system differences and limitations of course*.
As soon as I add a comment to an app, I'd like to have the option to get notifications if other users comment on that app as well (likely reacting to my post). And beyond that per-post-decision a preference to generally automatically have the subscription checkbox ticked, if one post to a topic. Still with the possibility to untick in each individual case!
* If the repo comment section would differ between posting to an app's main thread or responding to a specific post, there could be the preference, to notify me on all posts or only on replies to my posts. But as repo discussion is (yet) of low frequency (compared to the forums), this differentiation is not necessary at the moment.