As the name implies, private messages mean private correspondence. If a permanent record is always kept, then it's not really private. It would be similar to your ISP keeping copies of all your emails. On other boards where I've used this feature, the user decided whether he wanted to keep a copy server-side or permanently delete it.
If iHub is different, that's fine with me. I think they should at least put a note in the PM feature section. The reason I say this is because anything they keep server-side can be obtained by anyone who may decide to take legal action against you. iHub's ToS mentions they will not hand over PMs for subpoenas. If a court orders it, they'll have no choice. When I read the ToS here, it didn't even occur to me these were kept as permanent records. I assumed they meant the ones in your inbox/outbox/folders. I bet most users have no idea their private conversations are not as private as they may assume. Even after deleted, they can be used in a court of law against them IF a permanent record is being kept. It wouldn't surprise me if some are putting very personal info about themselves in PMs thinking no one else will ever see it except the recipient.
Anyway, for me, I don't really care what iHub's practice is I just want to know if archives are deletable.
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"We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful."
-- Warren Buffett
