I've used Yahoo for years and had no problem. For a long time it was technically a directory, not a search engine, though I'm sure the search engine features have been added in. You had to ask to be listed at Yahoo at point in time.

Their email has a lot of good features like Norton AntiVirus scanning of attachments. If you want to keep your yahoo mail by downloading it into your computer you have to pay a modest annual fee. If you want a free email that comes with a free POP or SMPT or whatever server to download into Outlook or Eudora or whatever, use Google's mail. If they're still requiring an "invitation" to join, I can send you one. PM me with your current email address and I'll send it. But Google won't help your Yahoo situation. I'm offering in case someone else reads this and wants Google mail.

SRS