[i_am_nomad]

Or, a “degraded” HTML, basically an HTML to markdown converter, that keeps text-like formatting and drops things like images, scripts, and the like.

[erichurkman]

Most ESPs offer some kind of html -> text rendering. Most suck.

Mandrill's was OK, and so far, so has Postmark.

But nothing beats a hand crafted text template.

[inferiorhuman]

Or, a “degraded” HTML

No, plain text will do just fine.