What exactly is the best E-mail type and/or service?

Just what is exactly the best type and way to use Email.  Do you use a Pop3 or a web-based.  I have all my email forwarded to my Yahoo web-based account to make it accesible anywhere.  The BlackBerry is one the most amazing inventions of our time!  The only problem is that web-based emails that link to it are limited. Sure you can sync to Blackberry from a computer, but what happens when you don't have a computer readily available.  I would be interested to see what others do, and how they handle thier mobile email.  In this day of Internet and speed, people need quick responses.  The days of checking email once a day are over.  Now it is like every hour or so.  I just wanted to see what everyone thinks.