comments on review of EarthLink → Not EL/MS's fault

The Netscape Mail problem has nothing to do with the DSL service - somehow Netscape Mail got set as the default mail program for your computer. Just go into Outlook or Outlook Express (I assume one of these is what you intend to use since you reference clicking on Mail in Internet Explorer) and Tools > Options, towards the bottom it says "Make Outlook (Express) my default Mail Handler" and click the button. May need a restart.