I agree. When I worked at State Dept., there was no enforced requirement to save e-mails because they were not considered communications of record as opposed to written letters, reports, or serialized/numbered telecommuncations/cables/messages. Now, much important information was exchanged via e-mail, probably more of it in fact then in "record communications", but how does one distinguish between routine, unimportant dribble between two parties and communication requiring preservation?  More to the point, how does one index e-mails so they can be retrieved? It's almost like saving and indexing every word of spoken communication. I know some people, including myself, did save their e-mails for extended periods of time, but no one I knew of ever provided a means of doing so in a way that ensured their long term retrieveability.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears