I don't know what to call it but some kind of training course, a spec or some other conditioning seems needed to get the best out of email. If the participants know 10 basic things like how and where to insert their responses and do not add 100 graphical signatures to each mail it gets 1000 times more wonderful and enjoyable. Long form doesn't become all that desirable that way. (It seems forums played a major role teaching how to quote to and gmail did a good job making it impossible.) Even on HN we rarely see quotation go on for more than one level.

<- your comment never goes here

> > > > person 1 original message paragraph 1

> > > person 2 first response to paragraph 1

> > person 1 response to person 2 first response

> person 2 response to 1's response

<- your comment goes here (the context is still paragraph 1, anything about this goes here not some place else)

> > > > person 1 original message paragraph 2

> > > person 2 response to paragraph 2

> > person 1 response to above

> person 3 response to above

<- your comment about p2 goes here

> > > person 2 elaborates

> > 1 responds

> 3 responds

<- your comment on p2's elaboration goes here

<- if it cant fit the 3 previous topics it goes here.