... except, of course, that this not only makes it impossible to
follow a series of responses and to place responses in the context of
previous comments, it also disregards the various standards and
conventions that apply to Usenet.

Not if you are expecting it to be the other way round. Loads of mails
between my girlfriends and I last for weeks, all replies top written
obviously, and it is much easier than having to scroll through stuff read
before.

Top posting is OK between consenting adults in the privacy of their own
homes.

Of course, if you say something, she replies, you reply etc, you already
know what's gone before
--

Not if you were the one that was left out while the others bitch about you
and then some tube goes and sends it 2 you later... Life flashes before
your eyes when you realise you've done that. I haven't, but my pal did
TWICE. Not that any of the guys on uk.d-i-y would ever moan about anyone
else....