> The email address format is so useful for domain-based identity. Agreed. But this is also where the problems of spam begin. Perhaps if we chose to 'phase ou

> The email address format is so useful for domain-based identity. Agreed. But this is also where the problems of spam begin. Perhaps if we chose to 'phase out' MX records in DNS for something new, say 'MSG'. A domain could then have an MX as well as a MSG server... A local MTA would route to the 'new shiny messaging system', so that clients could use the one system to read emails. Remote MTAs could also lookup and see if there's a 'MSG' on the receiving end and talk to it instead, rather than the designated MX, increasing the security. (In this case the sending user would still be sending via a normal email client) Ideally, everyone will migrate over to MSG, upgrading the world smoothly. (I figure something like this has already been tried tho...?) 2c.