To tell the truth, what's best about the internet can't be listed here. The best of the internet . . . is people. And the quickest way to real people on the web are newsgroups . You could spend hours or weeks researching something, or you could locate a specialist who can get you straightened out in no time.
People tend to answer e-mail, too.
To a surprising degree, people are willing to respond to perfect strangers, to offer help merely because they are pleased to do so.