IRC lacks history, unless you want to run a proxy some place. With IRC, you either run your own server or trust a server run by someone with whom you probably

IRC lacks history, unless you want to run a proxy some place. With IRC, you either run your own server or trust a server run by someone with whom you probably have no commercial relationship. IRC clients mostly suck, for the purposes of people who are not already IRC aficionados. File transfers are, afaicr, not ideal with IRC. Bottom line is, IRC doesn’t just work in the way most people need. Sure, it’s branding and usability but they’re hugely important.