Is PBeM Roleplaying?

For a variety of reasons, I've got very behind on GAME WISH responses. WISH 30 asks this question:

Are PBeM (Play-by-email) games actually roleplaying? Why or why not? How does PBeM differ from or approximate roleplaying face-to-face, or other activities that you feel it is similar to?

One thing that surprised me when I first started on-line roleplaying (using the message boards of the late-lamented CompuServe RPGAMES forum) was that I was actually roleplaying much more intensely. My previous experiences in a long-running AD&D campaign had focussed much more on tactical combat; although there was a plotline the actual gameplay focussed more on the wargaming side of things that really getting inside the head of the character. On-line things were different, without the distractions of dice and minatures I actually began focussing on how my characters felt. In one game I described my character's dreams in detail; I couldn't imagine doing that in any of my face-to-face games up to that point.

On that basis, I have to say that email and message board gaming is most definitely roleplaying.

I can see how some people don't take to this for of gaming due to lack of immediacy; in some ways it's like reading a novel as opposed to watching a film or TV programme, and may not suit those who's forté is improvised acting. On the other hand, those of us that can express ourselves better in writing than in speech find the email medium a better format for pure roleplaying.