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I used this as a backup target for the longest time. Simply split the backup file into 10 MB chunks and send as mails to a gmail account. Encrypted so no privacy problems. Rock solid for years.

And as it was just storing emails it was even using gmail for it's intended purpose so no TOS problems..

Yup, did the exact same thing to back up all of the Wordpress installs on a free server I ran for friends.

People did this on AOL in the 90s as well!

Did you manage to get on the latest Mass Mail going out tonight?

With AOL, in the early 90’s you didn’t even need to do that. You could just reformat and reuse the floppy disks they were always sending you for free storage.

I know someone who published an academic paper on doing exactly this.

Doesn't sound very noteworthy tbh. It's obviously possible and the implementation is straightforward.

sounds like 99% of academic papers

Most papers at least sound like they're notable!

The less jam you have, the more you spread it out.

The opposite is also true. Brilliant ideas have lead to papers that can read obvious and terribly unremarkable.