[esonderegger]

I just checked to make sure, and creating new email addresses using google apps does not require creating a g+ account.

I've been happy with using google apps for my email server and have had no trouble staying in the free tier. It's clearly not for everyone, but it sounds like it will involve far fewer headaches for you than managing your own server.

[phunel]

True, but Google Apps tends to follow Gmail's lead, albeit at a delayed pace.

I agree that Google Apps is the best of the bunch, and much easier to manage than your own server - but the privacy concerns have just nagged at me for years. I keep getting back to the core issue: is giving this (or any) company the sum of all my written communications in exchange for ease of use worth it? It's something I'm still struggling with.

[koalaman]

you don't feel covered by Google's terms of service?