I've complained a lot about HTML email on various mailing lists, but I am not just dead set against HTML email on principle. What I am against, however, is (1) the propagation of HTML email without any standards backing it up, (2) the increasing use of HTML email in ways that don't benefit the user but only benefit the marketer & spammer (Web bugs, cookies, etc.), and (3) the use of HTML email for unnecessary reasons.

*If* there was a standard for a limited subset of HTML to be used in email, and *if* that standard limited the use of things like web bugs, and *if* email programs consistently supported this standard, and *if* I could have further control with preferences in my email client, then I would be supportive of HTML email.

I think that's reasonable.