Hello
(flamines: +10)
Most people who use webforums are too stupid or lazy to set up or use an SMTP/IMAP/NNTP client.
Can't argue 'bout that. After all i'm just a stupid forum user.
But there's one thing with forums that IMVHO mailing-lists can't do. TBMS forums build better comunities than mailing-lists. Mailing lists are just concentrated on the topics, disallowing any OT. With a forum you can easily moderate a "on-topic only" subforum, allowing people to exchange opinions in other forums.
Just my random thoughts 'bout forums.