A bell for out-of-game communication

[Wirt]

Just using them as an example here. If anyone can call you as much as they want, that's just bound to happen, regardless of your choice of friends. If only your kin can call you, than you might be missing out opportunities. If you can only be called once per half-hour, you're losing... what, exactly?

[Jackard]

Well there's not a lot to really say here. Why should the devs put forth the effort into implementing something that actually encourages players not to use it? Just continue to use out of game means, there are more important issues for them to tackle.

[Darkavatar]

Either have basic unhindered in-game email, or just use the out-of-game communications. Any crap mechanic added to the in-game email will cause it to be useless. Also never allow the sending of items via mail, since that usually leads to a item duping bug.

[Wirt]

Well there's not a lot to really say here. Why should the devs put forth the effort into implementing something that actually encourages players not to use it? Just continue to use out of game means, there are more important issues for them to tackle.

Well, why do you insist it even should encourage anyone to use it? No in-game communication encourages using it due to various external pieces of software offering voice comms, video comms, better interface and whatnot. The only reasons people use in-game means at all is the lack of a need to alt-tab (Or run the software in the first place) and them being a part of the game.
I don't exactly see why you should be able to use this specific thing I offered without limitations: I've already explained why one message per half-hour (Or any other semi-arbitrary amount of time) is enough. You know someone sent for you and you'll probably check it anyway as soon as you can.
Sure, I see what problems can arise from both limiting the system too much, and not limiting it enough. I'll stand by my reasoning.

With that said, an interesting suggestion cropped up in the other thread:

How about simply being able to craft a message by using some items like beautiful dream and a string and then send it through a heathfire(by right-clicking it) or kinlist(with some button in there) that'll be shown when target logs in at his hearthfire or checks it.

This way hearthfire could work as a mailbox giving others a chance to read or steal your mail without needing new buildings.

Throw a string into the wind and dream of your friend and maybe he'll hear you when the winds find him.

I like this. Just expand it to deliver these messages to outside of the game, and you have it.