[ajb]

You can use Gmail with your own domain, and download all the email via IMAP/POP, or forward it all to another account. That way you get the functionality but not the dependency. This is the safest way to set up any cloud email account, even if you decide to move from Gmail to a different one.

[dmd]

I already do that - my domain is actually hosted at Dreamhost, and then mail is forwarded to Gmail.