first may I say you didn't waste my time. so don't worry about that.
2nd I may try again as you say it may want to download all my imap files so First I will o archive everything and sort ito ut. The annoying hting that was happeneing with Applemail was reloading junk and other messages that I had thought I had deleted. I beleived my settings in apple mail were to prevent that happening.
I don't see extra copies of the emssages so it must just be ...I don't know.. but whenI see downloaidng 24,000 messages I panicked a little.
I will try Thunderbird again ,
At the moment I have a few projects to get on with so when I have some free time( I am retired I should have plenty but somehow manage to fill my hours when not resting( ill heatlh besets me BUT I try to do what I can within my physical limitations..
SO please don;t take it that you were giving the wrong advice.
At least you responsded to my question positively which no-one else did
All the other respondent did was ' try to put you down'( NO Offence HPR3 but you did not give an answer at all.)
(ℹJust an aside
I have just seen your location. I will be in Athens and Acworth GA later this month to see my Grandson wed his high school sweetheart :-) I know of Decatur, my DIL is American and used to work in the library there!) Grandson is a graduate of UGA with a BSA and studying VET science now 🙂 I am so proud of him) will travel on to Conifer in CO after the wedding to stay with said DIL and my son)