In fact, 'mail' *has* to use the traditional syntax because it is
designed as a drop-in replacement for the usual unix /bin/mail (mailx)
command, and that syntax (as well as the locations of its configuration
files) are mandated by POSIX. It could be possible to use *both* the
mailutils configs and traditional ones, but in practice it proved to be
too cumbersome and error-prone.
*sigh* Perhaps I should read POSIX someday -- I had no idea it specified 'mail/x' , but I can see how it is a good idea to have a standard, shell-based(?) interface to the local mail system.
Believe me, I would never want to have to support *two* configuration systems for any non-trivial program -- one is quite enough as it is, in my experience.
And if I understand the 'scripting' bit correctly, I can see how very useful that could be.
Thanks again,
Chris Hall