Outlook 2000 - Incoming Text Format Question

When an incoming email arrives in RIch Text or HTML, when replying, I can answer the original message paragraph by paragraph. Each answer is preceded with my name bracketed to indicate that I am answering.

Example of incoming and my reply below:

INCOMING MESSGAGE - What is your name?
REPLY - [Eric Gail] My name is Eric.


The bracket and my name show up in alternate color to the incoming message. It is a great feature.

However if a message arrives in plain text, when I reply, this feature (my name in brackets) does not work.

I have tried converting the incoming messages to Rich or HTML text, however the feature does not engage.

Can anyone advise if there is a way to automatically convert all incoming messages so they come in as HTML or Rich text?

Thank you Eric