I still have a Hotmail address as my 'spam catchall' address around the web. I've had it since probably 1998 and since a lot of old friends and accounts are still connected to it I'm not letting it go. It continues to serve its purpose well. I've watched Hotmail evolve over the years and honestly the current state of it is pretty good. Considering they are the #1 spam sink on the web I get virtually none in my in-box. Their interface is pretty slow at times but considering I don't live in there I don't mind.

I wouldn't write off a Hotmail address as a 'joke' though.. some of those who still have them may have had them a long, long time.