The main reason I prefer email over messaging is that it allows me to correspond with the widest range of people. I work in academia and publishing and have various personal interests, and I want to be able to interact with people in many countries and walks of life. There is no single messaging service that would make that possible.

Also, I want people to be able to contact me unsolicited. Many interesting jobs and opportunities have come my way over the years because someone I didn’t know reached out to me by email.

I do wish that email was standardized with better formatting conventions, though.