Facebook Announcement: New email and messaging system. Will it change the way you message people?

Facebook is taking one more step to dominate the world. Or at least to compete with Google.

Today, the internet was buzzing that Facebook would be providing email addresses to its users. But the changes the site plans to make involve much more than that. CEO Mark Zuckerberg exclaimed during a press conference in San Fransisco, "We don't think a modern messaging system is going to be e-mail." Then exactly what does a "modern messaging system" include?

Rumors about email addresses are true; the social network giant will provide Facebook.com addresses to those who want one. (It should be noted that it won't have the full functionality of a regular email account.) But before you groan and think, "yet another email domain that I have to check," consider how this "social inbox" might make your life easier and more organized. Currently you can view Facebook private messages between "friends" in the "Message" section of the site. But soon, in this revamped area you'll also be able to view IMs, texts, and emails. The system will block out spam (hopefully) and will prioritize messages depending on your relationship with the senders.

On the other hand, while this could be your one stop for checking messages, the system could also be a huge invasion of privacy. Think of how in the past you may have shared something personal you didn't intend to across Facebook. (Who hasn't done that with a status message or photo?) But worse yet, imagine if your account got hacked. You thought it was bad if someone got into your Gmail or Yahoo? If it was your future Facebook, it may be worse -- the hacker would have access to your texts, IMs and more.

Are you looking forward to the new Facebook messaging system? Or would you avoid it in fear of possible identify and privacy issues?

If you did use it, would you continue to use your regular email address (Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, etc)?