SMTP is a line–based protocol, including the part that transfers the message body

The server needs to parse the message headers, so it can't be an opaque blob. If the client uses IMAP, the server needs to fully parse the message. The only alternative is POP3, where the client downloads all messages as blobs and you can only read your email from one location, which made sense in the year 2000 but not now when everyone has several devices.

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fluoridation 4 hours ago | parent [-]

Hey, POP3 still makes sense. Having a local copy of your emails is useful.

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direwolf20 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

If you want it to be the only copy and not sync with anything

POP3 is line–based too, anyway. Maybe you can rsync your maildir?

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fluoridation 3 hours ago | parent [-]

I just read it mainly in one place and through the web interface when I have to.

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dylan604 2 hours ago | parent [-]

If your "in one place" reader is still open and downloading messages then there will be no messages to view in the web interface when you have to.

	▲	fluoridation 24 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		There will, because my client doesn't delete the messages from the server when it downloads them.
	▲	skydhash 34 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		POP3 is more for reading and acting on your email in one place (taking notes, plan actions, discard and delete,…). No need to consume them on other devices as you’ve already extracted the important bits. I use imap on my mobile device, but that’s mostly for recent emails until I get to my computer. Then it’s downloaded and deleted from the server.

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ahoka an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

But it's more akin to consuming a message queue. You have fetched it, it's gone.