I am in a similar boat. I currently have access to my @verizon account only through the AOL online website. I’m getting ready to transition from my decade-old Windows 7 computer to a new one which will have Windows 10. Then I can start sorting out the email crap on that and my phone.
come back to this thread when you get ready and see what choice I finally make and why, maybe it will suit you too.
I found that AOL had dumped all sorts of things into the junk folder, with no hint to me they were doing it (I run my own Email filters in Thunderbird) and after which I never saw it because with Thunderbird/POP it pulls in only from the inbox - from the service providers inbox to the inbox in Thunderbird. Verizon never did that.