[Weirdad]

Virtually EVERY e-mail client or web mail system includes an option to not view images with e-mail.

There is NOTHING unique about gmail in having an option to block images, including one-pixel “web bugs.” Everyone has that. Everyone. The only question is whether or not that “feature” it turned on to show images, or turned off to not show images, by DEFAULT.

Sometimes it is not set for best privacy and the user has to take responsibility himself or herself and turn off images.

As to the problem you cite, tracking, “although then you get all the Goggle tracking” — that is the reason to use other e-mail and not gmail.

[steve86]

Virtually EVERY e-mail client or web mail system includes an option to not view images with e-mail. There is NOTHING unique about gmail in having an option to block images, including one-pixel “web bugs.” Everyone has that. Everyone.

Everyone agrees with what you're saying there -- no new information. I want to filter out emails containing web bugs whether or not I am displaying remote images.