I think chances are, the readers of HN already know the difference between a protocol and a service. And the benefit you listed is already one given to email —

I think chances are, the readers of HN already know the difference between a protocol and a service. And the benefit you listed is already one given to email — the reason that lavabit was shut down was because the guy behind it didn't want to provide a service he knew to be flawed, in that the US government could request details about users. The question is, how does this protocol have it built into it in such a way that both allows anonymity and so that providers can pop up in their place, as you say?