>*3) that talking to people is almost always the better choice when you get temp...

>3) that talking to people is almost always the better choice when you get tempted to write a long reply.

indeed! but i would add (in corporate environments):

4) follow up your phone call/face-to-face chat with a brief email summary, so you have something in writing.

it has saved me countless times over my career.

I like to go straight to #4 and skip the phone call or face to face.