Forums tend to be slower web applications with 100 characters of text surrounded on all sides by navigation and advertising. I would rather get that 100 characters in the form of an email in my favorite email program than have to remember to go and get it, or logon to a website to post replies.
But I think it's about freedom to organize. When I find a useful post, it stays in my email and I know where to find it. With a web application, the message can get purged or the website reorganized on a whim under the well intentioned idea of making navigation easier. Cheers ...
