Note: If you do it this way, and use your own domain (I'd recommend registering it through someone other than Google), if/when Gmail goes lame, you can pack up and take your address with you.

(Meantime, keep your emails backed up.)

I also hope, a bit, that the paid version means Gmail/Apps may have some degree of independence/durability that is separate from the advertising revenue. I'm probably wrong, though, at least at this point.