[jjav]

Indeed. While one can complain about this or that little detail, email is by far the best communications mechanism on (or off) the Internet.

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.