I would suggest a better solution would be to start the local upas/fs
watching the two different mailboxes - I haven't tried this for a long time
but it should work (bitrot not withstanding).
in your profile:
plumber
9fs remote
upas/fs -n # do not open /mail/box/$user/mbox
echo open /mail/box/$user/mbox loc > /mail/fs/ctl
echo open /remote/mail/box/$user/mbox rem > /mail/fs/ctl
rio
There may still be some assumptions in the plumber or upas/fs
about the name of the mailbox to watch / plumb, however that
seems like the proper place for a fix (IMHO).
-Steve