Why is it people are using IMAP and rules to unsuccessfully try to make IMAP onto POP? I just do not understand this sort of thing at all.

Why are you not using POP to get your mail if everything has to go into a local folder? That is what it is designed for.

Your issue you are posting about would simply not exist if you were using the right protocol (pop) which even comes with a handy option to redirect mail to the local folders inbox..

Thank you Matt for your kind answer. I am terribly sorry for annoying you by not knowing the right from the wrong, but obviously i did not.

I am not trying to pick on you, I really do not know why. I have been seeing loads of questions here of late from people using the wrong protocol usually IMAP and I genuinely would like to understand why they do it. Their experience is really poor and if I can figure it out I might be able to file some bugs to change things so folks get the right tool for the job.

I did not see the coupling between folder colour and choice of mail server.

Found the trick, After setting up for POP, go to Server settings --> Advanced --> Inbox for different account That is exectly what I want.

I did look in Thunderbird Help and FAQ just now, it looks to me the bias is for changing POP to IMAP rather than the other way.