A site which  can't process anything but MAIL format  should probably not
connect to BITNET. Even Data  General and Multics systems, operating with
a gorgeous HASP/DMTSML (well modified  DMTSML *grin*) are able to receive
NETDATA format files (text only of course).
 
You see, a site which can't receive PUNCH format is most certainly a site
which looks into the RFC822 header  to determine what the destination and
origin are. Since LISTSERV stupidly and  incorrectly creates a new set of
RFC822 headers (when will the author  listen to the voice of reason?), it
usually works.  If, instead,  this stupid  mail server  did as  any other
sensible INTERNET  host and merely  created a BSMTP  envelope, preserving
the original  RFC822 header as  God meant it to  be, and as  all sensible
UUCP gateways are doing, you would  receive a RFC822 header which doesn't
contain anything  closely or remotely resembling  the destination userid,
not even in UUCP crap!blah!stuff syntax.
 
Anybody interested in a mod to DMTSML  that puts the target userid in the
printer banner (where  the 'WAS THE ORIGIN' blurb used  to be) is welcome
to ask for  a copy. "Try it,  and you'll start wondering  how you've been
able to do without it for so long".
 
  Eric