Hi,
I prefer to write emails following rules similar to what MZMcBride pointed at the beginning of this topic, mainly because it is how I like to read other people emails - tho unfortunately a few people do so. I use gmail, because I like its features and I don't care about privacy issues, but I believe people should have the choise to worry about this, i. e., people should be allowed to not use *a* specific client.
There are places where Internet access is very expensive, mainly poor countries. [1] Fortunately, even paying too much for Internet access, as compared to (the so called) developed countries, I can easily follow these discussions. But I know there are (a *lot* of) people who cannot (a few years a go I couldn't). Then, in my humble opinion, a minimum effort could make possible more people to have access to discussions at WMF mainling list.
Unless most of us already have a well formed opinion on the uselfulness of most discussions held here.
Hugs,
Tom
[1] Are poor countries subsidizing the rich?
http://www.itu.int/itunews/manager/display.asp?lang=en&year=2005&iss...
(A few research can show more data and comparisons on that.)