I am really unhappy with what's happening to email. It may not be new and interesting, but it's important. I am going to invest some time in trying to improve things.

Attempts to improve email are happening in silos rather than through collaboration (in the style of html5). The result is major players are designing solutions that box features into their silos. Email needs designs that embrace its federated nature.

I just want to ask, are you aware of IndieWeb David? E.g., indieweb.org/silo. If not, I just wanted to put it on your radar, since it sounds like you have some common values.

There's some overlap, but I am not opposed to what they might call silos in email services. Commercial email hosting is good as long as the federation system works.