Probably not that terrible if they only do it for accounts that were created and never used. Like all the good GitHub usernames that seem to be abandoned.

GitHub usernames and emails are very different things. You don't get password reminders sent to your github profile, but you can get those via email.

BTW, no, most email providers never allow the reuse of close account names.

Microsoft seems to, although I can't find a specific statement from them confirming it: http://windowsitpro.com/blog/recycled-email-addresses-and-ou...