I have posted my .log file (I think) to pastebin - here: 
http://pastebin.com/LkmVx7cb

My mutt -v does not list the "Configure Options," so I went through and tried 
to corroborate the list of "USE-…" and "HAVE_…" options, but still the error:

> chgrp: you are not a member of group mail
> Can't fix mutt_dotlock's permissions!  This is required to lock mailboxes in 
> the mail spool directory.
> make[4]: *** [install-exec-hook] Error 1
> make[3]: *** [install-exec-am] Error 2
> make[2]: *** [install-am] Error 2
> make[1]: *** [install-recursive] Error 1
> make: *** [install] Error 2

Thanks for the thoughts on why to use mutt.  I have not been conscious of how 
my email program is failing to serve me properly, though I imagine there are 
frustrations I am accustomed to.  If I can get mutt to work, I will perhaps 
find out.

Should I have been sending these emails to a non-dev user group?

~Conor Cook

> On Jan 29, 2015, at 10:48 AM, David Champion <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> * On 29 Jan 2015, Conor Cook wrote: 
>> Dear David,
>> 
>> Thank you.  I did attempt to rebuild from the source, although I am
>> having trouble with the links at the mutt.org website.  Neither of the
>> mutt-1.x.tar.gz links will load, and at sourceforge I can only find
>> the dev or 1.4.2.2i versions.  I tried to build both the dev version
> 
> Hmm, it looks like ftp.mutt.org is down.  Steve, is that your turf?
> 
> Conor, your best bet is this:
> https://bitbucket.org/mutt/mutt/downloads/mutt-1.5.23.tar.gz
> 
> The 1.4 releases are terribly old (and what to do about versions is
> a current topic of discussion for us).  You should use 1.5's latest
> release; even though it's badged "development" it's generally quite
> stable and far more featureful than 1.4.  In particular the IMAP support
> in 1.4 is much weaker than 1.5's.
> 
> With your old copy of mutt, run "mutt -v".  This should tell you
> something about how your old copy was compiled, which may be useful
> in deciding how to configure the source tree.  Recent versions of
> mutt have a "Configure options:" line that gives the exact arguments
> to ./configure that were used during the build.  You can just add
> "--enable-imap --enable-pop" to that to configure a new source tree the
> same way, but with IMAP and POP support.
> 
> I noticed you said you'd tried the dev version, so maybe all this is
> redundant.  But when you're at the computer, copy your configure/compile
> log on pastebin.com and post the link here.  Someone may be able to
> help.
> 
> 
>> Basic question, is there any reason for a novice computer-er like me
>> to use mutt beyond the novelty of emailing in Terminal, or am I in
>> over my head with mail servers and the like?
> 
> This is a good question, really.  I can't answer it but I can tell you
> how I and others answer it for ourselves.
> 
> Mutt diehards usually find that mutt gives us the control we want
> to manage mail more effectively and efficiently than most or any
> graphical app allows.  Not everyone feels this way, and there are dozens
> of reasons that we individually prefer mutt.  I don't think that a
> text-mode mailer is particularly something to aspire to unless you have
> specific needs that are unmet by your current mail tools.  In that case,
> mutt can give you a lot of flexibility in how you address the issue.
> 
> I've been using mutt daily for.. I guess about 18 years now.  I lead
> an email-centric life, so it's pretty important to me that I be able
> to handle email painlessly.  Before mutt I was routinely frustrated by
> my mail applications, and always looking for some other way.  Mutt is
> imperfect, but the number of times in those 18 years that I've been
> genuinely upset by something relating to mail handling is low -- less
> than once per year, I'd guess.  And when I do have a problem: (a)
> there's a very helpful community willing to share or create solutions,
> and (b) as a programmer, I can often solve it by improving the software
> for everyone.  This kind of support is really hard to get with desktop
> mail apps -- but fundamentally, if you're happy with what you have,
> don't fight it. :)
> 
> It also presents an enormus learning opportunity, if you think that
> knowledge of mail service is potentially valuable.
> 
> 
>> Thank you all for your hard work keeping this sort of project going.
>> I follow other open source communities, as well, and the work that all
>> of you do is both amazing and exciting!
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> -- 
> David Champion • [email protected]

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