I remember it being so amazingly fast compared to the full mozilla suite that I switched immediately. Looking back it’s truly odd that people thought a browser needed an email client, news reader and html wysiwyg editor included by default (and non-removable), but I remember at the time it made complete sense.

I think it made sense since html email was much like html on the web. Who knows, maybe in the future people will think it strange that the email reader had an editor to send mail?

I think it is fair to say that not forcing people to have a web authoring tool that reminds them they are the author contributed greatly to the new web of walled gardens.

My dad is currently using SeaMonkey for email and and editing his website.

It feels very wrong but after 20 years and 100 GB of pop3 email, it's hard to switch I suppose.

Yes.