Many people get all their email messages downloaded to their computer daily.
But as the amount of messages grows and as people add more photos, audio, etc., this takes longer and longer. Gradually, people become more reluctant to use their name and email address. What may help is using nicknames and a web-based email address to send and receive email to and from mailing lists. If a message contains links to photos or other content that you like to explore, you can go straight to the respective page. You can keep the email address if you change ISPs.