Hi Mark,
Why not run your own mail server ? I use Exim (a Sendmail replacement)
Because I'm not going to pay for colocation, or whatever. This is my personal domain, etc, and I'm paying about $6US for it a month. I'm not running a business, and so don't want to pay $$$ to Verizon for a business line.
My domains cost about USD 7.50 annually. Couldn't you get a VPS for little more than your USD 6 a month, or does that include your DSL connection ?
Do you get mail by SMTP ?
Ah, yes. I think you're thinking of the Green Card Scam, from Cantor and Siegal. Yes, I was on usenet then.... "There's no such thing as community, this is just a marketing opportunity".
Used to be on flame-wars then :-) And an ardent critic of the NRA gun nutters.