[Android Apps and Games] jmh2002:
Yes, I think there are 2 aspects to consider here:

1: The marketing and support of the app to privacy conscious users. Obviously the app is already taregetted in this direction and these users are willing to accept some differences to other email apps in exchange for the privacy features. I also think that many of the privacy orientated users are also 'power users' and more technically proficient, or at least willing to take the time to learn, because they really want these features. I might be wrong but I don't think you have too much trouble from these users, and they normally upgrade to the paid version too.

2: The marketing and support of the app to the general user, and perhaps the education of that user regarding privacy considerations and why FairEmail is 'better'. In a lot of respects I think this is a road to hell to be honest... :oops: and perhaps the source of many of the negative reviews on the play store.

It might be a just quest to educate these users, but I think it may also be enormously frustrating too.

Also, I realise that you like to suggest that the app is 'perfectly usable with the default configuration', but I humbly suggest that while that might be 'technically true', for the average user just looking for another (free?) email app the default configuration of FairEmail will come as an ENORMOUS shock compared to most other regular email apps where they just enter their log in credentials and thereafter are presented with a standard type of layout which they are used to.

Probably the biggest issue for those users is in fact the privacy setting of not displaying images by default and instead showing a reformatted email. Depending on the source of the email this can often result in an ugly and unusual message display COMPARED to what those general users are used to with other email apps. That might be correct from a privacy perspective, but it sure won't be what they were expecting to see.

I'm not complaining personally about these things. I took the time to dive into all the settings, and ask questions here in the support thread, and I appreciate the app for what it is, and the huge amount of customisation that is available for me and my use cases.

But for the average user, after installing and trying for 5 minutes, I can understand that they might be immediately turned off and thereafter leave a negative review. FairEmail just doesn't (initially) satisfy their desire for instant 'out of the box' prettiness, even if ultimately that may be acheivable via settings changes.

This is all a double edged sword of course. The huge amount of settings (pages and pages of them) that make me happy because of all the customisation they provide (to get things 'just right') are on the other hand overwhelming for many average users. It might just seem too hard and too much (even if it might not be in reality).

For example, I have several family members of different ages using and testing FairEmail now, and they are mostly happy, but that's because I set the app up for them in a friendly way, mimicking a more standard email app as much as possible - otherwise they never would have chosen FairEmail themselves, and they certainly wouldn't know what 95% of the settings do. Nor would they want to spend the time learning either.

A default configuration that had most of the privacy features disabled, and all the eye candy enabled, might help reduce negative reviews from average users - but I can totally understand why you may not want to do that of course... (although since it is available via settings anyway, maybe it doesn't need to be a moral issue?)

However privacy focused power users would have no problem easily turning those features on.

Perhaps a 'Basic' settings (1 or 2 pages max) and an 'Expert' settings?

Maybe even a global 'Privacy ON / OFF' toggle, possibly as part of the initial setup?

Again I can totally understand why you may not want to do any of that of course...

But it's probably what is necessary if you want to appeal to that mass market general user.

If not maybe the app is better suited to being on GitHub, F-Droid, etc only, to avoid negative reviews?

As far as negative reviews or emails from people that you have actually provided individual support to, well that is just plain rude and offensive - but hey, there are a lot of rude and offensive people out in the world, especially (as another user mentioned) if they can hide behind the internet and troll online. Some even act like this in person.

So unfortunately whenever you deal with the public, in any way at all, there are always a certain amount of fxxk-wits that you will need to put up with or learn to ignore... 🤬

That's my 2 cents on this subject anyway.

But I am sorry that you need to put up with so much negativity, and that it affects you so badly.

I'll come back regarding other support questions another day when I have more time to provide feedback.

THANKS again for all your work Marcel :)