imho, most people do not understand the deal.

and very few people recognize a more subtle ethical dilemma. by agreeing to google's tos not only are you giving up your privacy, you are also surrendering the privacy of the people with whom you send and receive email. something almost everyone would acknowledge that they don't have the right to do without first acquiring consent.

sylpheed is better:
    http://sylpheed.sraoss.jp/en/

it uses MH for storage (similar to maildir - a requested tbird enhancement that has fallen on deaf ears for years)

here's another perspective.

i have not verified any of the details (which is why i'm posting a link to the article here). and while i'm skeptical given the free-energy theme of the web site on which it resides, i'm capable of imagining some of the details of the article might be true.

Mother of all gushers could kill Earth's oceans
http://pesn.com/2010/05/02/9501643_Mother_of_all_gushers_could_kill_Earths_oceans/