I think you're right about the syncing protocols. I held onto thunderbird to work with my company's gmail server for six years and it was awful. Sure it was more configurable, but since I switched to the web client I no longer deal with:
+ 2+ minute wait for new emails to hit my inbox,
+ spinning wheel every time I load the inbox, and
+ oddly formatted html mail from coworkers.
Maybe those issues are to do with google's slow imap servers, but I finally realized no matter where the issues come from I need to get work done. That can't happen with the combination of gmail, large accounts, and any external client I know of.
And I have to say, after installing a keyboard plugin I can read email without using the mouse. Something I never got right with t-bird.
+ 2+ minute wait for new emails to hit my inbox, + spinning wheel every time I load the inbox, and + oddly formatted html mail from coworkers.
Maybe those issues are to do with google's slow imap servers, but I finally realized no matter where the issues come from I need to get work done. That can't happen with the combination of gmail, large accounts, and any external client I know of.
And I have to say, after installing a keyboard plugin I can read email without using the mouse. Something I never got right with t-bird.