Christmas cards: e-cards vs mailing

I love Christmas cards; both receiving and sending them. I especially love the photo cards a lot of people send.  I used to send close to 100 cards each year as a way of keeping in touch, especially with people I don't see often. I set up my address list to print out labels, and composed an update letter, recapping events of the past year.  I have struggled with sending Christmas cards for the past couple of years.  Mom & I used to do them together.  We would remind, prompt & encourage each other to get them finished on time.  Without that "kick in the butt", I procrastinate.  A few years back, I started using e-card & hand delivering cards to people & would see.  There have been many e-card vendors, though some have come and gone. Free e-cards are still available, but most of the major providers like Hallmark & American Greetings offer a few for free, while offering premium cards for subscription members.  Last year, I had a Hallmark.com subscription, and I sent many e-cards, using e-mail addresses when I had them and Facebook posts when I didn't.  Many of the e-cards went unopened; Hallmark sent a pick-up notice for the ones sent to an e-mail address.  It was difficult to tell if the Facebook posts were viewed or opened, because there was no pick-up notice for those e-cards.  Mailed cards also get returned because the person moved & I did not get an address update.

This year, my Hallmark.com subscription had expired.  I sent a few of the free e-cards from Hallmark, then I chose to subscribe to Jacquie Lawson cards.  These are premium interactive cards available only by subscription. Again, I sent to e-mail addresses if I had them, and to Facebook if I did not.  Again, many went unopened.  Jacquie Lawson cards send pick-up notices if the card was sent to an e-mail address and shows whether Facebook posts were viewed, but not who viewed them. Some people did respond on Facebook or by e-mail; but very few. It was disappointing.  I did send some cards by mail, but they did not get mailed until 12/21 and might be late. 

So why don't people open their e-cards?  Do they think e-cards are tacky? Are they reluctant to open the link to view the card?  Has their e-mail address changed?  If you received an e-card from me, please open it and respond.  It is the courteous thing to do.