[zmb_]

When it comes to services like email, the quality of the user interface is really secondary. The primary concern is the ability to trust that I will remain accessible through the identifier (email address) that I've spread around to many people and places over the years.

Given Google's service shutdowns, dropped support for protocols, and the horror stories of seemingly accidental account closures with no recourse, I simply cannot trust Google with something as critical as my email.

[jamii]

Register your own domain and sign up for the free version of google apps. I have a gmail inbox for [e-mail] but if I need to change services I just move the MX record and upload my backups elsewhere.

[pchander]

The free version of google apps has been discontinued. New users can no longer sign up for it.

[comex]

You can, however, get a similar effect by forwarding all your mail to your Gmail account and configuring it to send mail as your domain email address (including using your SMTP server if necessary).

[udp]

Definitely a wise move to use your own SMTP server, or you'll end up with "From: [e-mail] on behalf of [e-mail]"[1].

[1] http://gmailblog.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/send-mail-from-anoth...

[cabirum]

It has been hidden, but not discontinued. You can still create a trial Google Apps account, and then "downgrade" to free account with 10 user limit

[prajjwal]

Not to mention the fact that you can still get excellent Outlook.com webmail with your own domain for free.