| I always have this feeling that email is flawed and due for a complete overhaul or replacement - and then I think about it a little harder and I realize that it's actually really good at it's intended purpose. Other than fiddling around the edges with security improvements, spam filtering, and a few other nice-to-haves, there's not really much that need improvement. Some features of email that are nice: - It's completely open standard - I can host it myself if I want, or not. - It is completely decentralized and roughly point-to-point, subject to email routers. - Other than getting an email address, no other 'linkage' or prepwork with that person is required. - My address is not tied to any other service, like a phone number. (in contrast to e.g. WhatsApp) - It supports unsolicited communication from unsolicited sources (e.g. marketing) - It's easy to ignore communication I don't care about. (e.g. marketing) - Non-people are supported, like group emails/aliases (support@...) - I can trivially attach files, subject to some practical constraints - Email can be handled by the recipient in a wide variety of ways using different client mechanisms. - I can front-end my email in a variety of ways, such as with a contact form. Those are just the few I can think of off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others. |
The key part of course is that it is completely open and standardized. Nobody owns it. That is a lesson that we should learn, but is every time forgotten.
No proprietary walled garden can ever come close to the usefulness of email precisely because email is open and standard. With proprietary systems it is inevitable users are subject to the whim of the owner. Might not be able to get accounts, or be arbitrarily banned, or have the app only available on limited platforms, etc.
I've been using email since the late 80s and more importantly I've had the exact same email address since the mid 90s. It's been hosted by multiple providers and the last decade I've been hosting it myself. But always the same domain and address.
No proprietary system can ever compete.