The very connection one of us needs may be someone in research for family reasons and not for a book in the making, or a church requirement, but just family documenting family. I have had much FUN stalking my ancestors. I have not only had to research data, but migratory patterns, Native American allied families, wars and rumors thereof and even wandered into the reasons for the Palatinic German immigration to understand more. I have never read so much history willingly. I am mostly using online research for those not in my area of residence.
Mailing lists are nice supplements to other research.
They will not give me everything I need, but often give a new insight.