Not to pile on, but Mail.app has seemed the most predictable and consistently performing (with search and basic usage) of all of the clients I have used, includ

Not to pile on, but Mail.app has seemed the most predictable and consistently performing (with search and basic usage) of all of the clients I have used, including most of those mentioned in the article. I realize this is just one data point, but as unpopular as your perspective is, stephenr, I share it.