One advantage of them being cumbersome is that they are not used as a
'public email facility' by the members with 'personal chat'. ... :-((

Of course some are not cumbersome, but can supply 'personal chat' via
private messaging. :-)
Newsgroups are great, I have been using them for over 25 years,
(anyone remember BB boards and Blue wave software?) The problem is
being ISP based , some of the big providers, are cutting back , or not
keeping postings as long as they were.
That's why web based forums, where 'admin's' have full control, have
now become the norm. Are they better, its all down to the content, but
they can supply pictures, video, and an archive of info.

So both have a place on my computer.

Derek
www.lincolnfuchsiasociety.info