I don’t know why it should be easier. I pay this provider and I get a working email account without problems.

I would guess a few thousand users.

My understanding is that for reliable email, you need to host with microsoft or google otherwise you are more likely to get sorted into junk mail. If that is incorrect, please let me know.

I don’t know. I never had a problems with a smaller mail provider.

Always a good, albeit depressing read.