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With us looking into backup ISPs in case of emergencies or outages, it got me thinking...

We are mostly worried about email access. We have pop accounts through our domain host (Verio) but we stopped using them when we purchased Windows SBS 2003. Since it comes with Exchange 2003 (and a copy of Outlook 2003 for each workstation) I thought it was an obvious upgrade to basic POP3 Mail provided from Verio, but now I see a flaw.

What features do we get over just downloading POP3 emails?

I know this seems like there is a obvious answer, but I guess its more like: what features do we NEED that we dont get with POP3?

I'm JUST NOW setting up a shared contact list (under Public Folders) that includes all of our Reps' information (email, phone, address, etc) so that all of us can access and maintain it. I don't quite understand Active Directory enough to add everything there (so if you could help, that'd be awesome).

We are (unfortunately) a habitual lot, so it's hard to convince people to use the Companyweb site from Sharepoint. We typically work in-house, and we use Server Shares to access shared files, and email to post general questions, so things like "shared library" and a company forum are seen as pointless. I have tried directing users to the Help Desk, but they forget that its there and come to me directly with problems.

On the client side, they still use outlook, they still send emails the same way, they still receive emails (from they percieve) the same way.
They still have to schedule a send/Receive every x minutes, and even up to now, maintain their own contact lists. So from their side, what do they really get from using Exchange over normal POP3?

A few things I try to explain as benefits:
1) If a computer fails (which has happened) they can simply go onto another user's computer temporarily, log in as themselves, and open up outlook and *POOF* all of their emails and contacts etc are there. Experience proved this to be true. BUT, argument says they can simply re-download their emails easily, as well. Its not as *POOF*, but its not impossible.

2) If they need to access their emails from away, the OWA offers a very familiar UI. (argument says that webmail is offered by verio)

3) Out of Office Assistant (similar service offered by Verio as well, though not as intuitive)

4) Shared Contacts (which they haven't started seeing develop until now, and Verio has no similar feature)

5) Utilizing ActiveSync on their cellphones can receive mail almost immediately (I use an iPhone, as does my Boss, my supervisor, and two more co-workers, and one uses a MotoQ). However, not everyone (two iPhone users) want company email on their personal phone. I love it, and use it religiously. The MotoQ user asked for it almost immediately after he signed on to work here.

Now that last point is hard to push as well because most phones (even non-smartphones) can access some form of POP3 access. It's not PUSH, but again, its not impossible.

Originally we had is set up to download POP emails to the exchange server, but that seemed pointless because not only were we forced to wait until the server "clicked send/receive", but the emails were often duplicated or triplicated when something went wrong (dont ask me, i dont remember).

So,
enough with my long rant.

Can someone offer some advice? What can I really show them to convince them without reasonable doubt that using our in-house server as our mail server is the best idea?