Apologies if this has been mentioned elsewhere.
The "Dear" in the admin email to customers is hardcoded.
Changes I made:
in the email/email_template_direct_email.html and other language versions:
chnage
to<div>Dear $EMAIL_FIRST_NAME $EMAIL_LAST_NAME</div>
admin/mail.php around line 59<div>$EMAIL_SALUTATION $EMAIL_FIRST_NAME $EMAIL_LAST_NAME</div>
towhile (!$mail->EOF) {
$html_msg['EMAIL_FIRST_NAME'] = $mail->fields['customers_firstname'];
and added the defines in the relevant language files:while (!$mail->EOF) {
$html_msg['EMAIL_SALUTATION'] = EMAIL_SALUTATION;
$html_msg['EMAIL_FIRST_NAME'] = $mail->fields['customers_firstname'];
define('EMAIL_SALUTATION', 'Dear');



