I've gotta admit... i also don't read the stickies *cough* Mainly because rules about behavior and stuff is always the same... And often they are just too long.
The only thing, which might work is making the actual threads to the most discussed things sticky, so they can see, there is one already (even if there are people out there opening a 'V's gender' thread with the other on the top of the top page already... Though, might be of use.)