I only use webmail (and work of course). Why would you get wedded to an address that will disappear when you change service providers?

Reviewed and ranked in order of preference-

Gmail: Advantages - easy to set up, nice interface, easy to import contacts, lots of storage. Also you can download a nice GMail application that runs on almost all cellphones and is better than any of the competition (at least for razr phones - obviously not an issue if you have a blackberry or other keyboard phones). Free POP3 which was easy to set up on my ipod touch (downloads mail every time I connect to free wi-fi). Disadvantages - no folders. This is bigger than you think, as you can't really organize your mail in Gmail. The "labels" don't really cut it.

Yahoo: Advantages - nice folder system, integrates well with other yahoo net products like yahoo home page, groups, finance, hotjobs, etc. Easy to open multiple messages. Free POP3 like Gmail. Disadvantages - phone interface is poor compared with Gmail program, and the new Yahoo Go! application doesn't work on many phones.

Hotmail - Advantages: Easy to create folders. Disadvantages: Poor user interface, no free POP-3 mail, no phone program, annoying bulk mail system. The worst of the lot.