I think either making the two terms refer to email only users and online users would be very helpful for my beginners. But if that path isn't taken then groups.io needs to remove the ambiguity.? Alternatively, online help and emails to users could refer to users as either email or online participants.
For example if you subscribe by email you get a note from groups.io welcoming you saying:
"You are currently an email-only participant. But if you establish an online profile you will have greater access to your group ..."
and an email going out to someone who created an online profile could say:
"Thanks for creating your profile, you now can access these great features ..."
?
My users are completely confused about the difference, that's for sure!
