That approximation of how email works was definitely helpful in the days where most people got their email via POP3 and actually downloaded those emails. And I

That approximation of how email works was definitely helpful in the days where most people got their email via POP3 and actually downloaded those emails. And I agree, I do not need to know how the USPS works internally, how FedEx or DHL do what they do exactly. Same with email. But the approximation is no longer true. The approximation would now be that the USPS stores all mail at the post office and if I want to read it I have to go to the post office and when I do I only take a copy of the mail back home to read. The post office keeps the original. Oh and the post office also reads all my mail and checks if they can show me relevant ads based on the content.