Hypothesis: this might happen because (a) ISPs (in the US) try
to avoid reusing addresses in order to avoid ECPA problems; and (b)
corporations try to avoid reusing addresses because they'd rather
have email bounce than have confidential information go to the wrong person.
I also wonder about Harald's sample - might this particular group of
people be more likely to
- understand the value of a stable email address
- pick a ISP that provides good service and has good potential for longevity
- have his/her own personal domain name
- forward his/her mail from older addresses to newer ones.
than the average email user?
(though presumably IETF folks are also more likely to fit the above
criteria than the average email user)
Keith