E-mail notifications - why not in the Notification applet (Gnome panel)

I've enabled 'New mail notifications' for my google account, but all that does is notify me in the Buddies window when I open it. I shouldn't have to open it. (that's like requesting a notification...) I've also installed the Guifications plugin, it's slightly better, gives me a visible alert when I receive an email. for a few seconds, that is, then it disappears without a trace.
If Pidgin can change its icon on the gnome panel when I get a new IM message, why won't it display a 'new mail' thingy there?