My first exposure to the internet was via Edmonton FreeNet. You'd dial in, using a terminal program like a BBS, and it would dump you into Lynx.

They had a menu where you could access email (Pine), manage your small amount of file space (downloads went here, then you'd go to the file manager to transfer them to your computer via ZModem), change your password, etc.

I have fond memories of Lynx, but I haven't used it since I switched to a provider that gave me a "real" connection.

Lynx is more lightweight, has a slightly different keyboard shortcut setup, and is much more explicit about displaying various HTTP messages in a way the user can see them. It also has confirmations for cookies by default.

Not sure. I think it's just older.

Back then, when I still cared about textmode browsers, there was lynx. Then came w3m and links and they were the cool new stuff.

w3m is pretty good at layout and in particular at tables. I use emacs for my mail, and use w3m to render html email and it does about as well as I think is possible within the confines of fixed-font plain text.

For me, muscle memory. I used Lynx back in the day on my 386 running DOS. And it's been useful everytime I had to install a linux system without installer (last time was guix, if I remember correctly). First thing I do is put it in expert mode to recover 3 lines at the bottom of the screen (you press "o" for options)

Gopher holes with HTTP links everywhere, such as gopherddit or hngopher.