NAC: Domain registration

[Andrew Buc]

Please reply off-list. I've been thinking of getting my own domain in 
order to have a stable email address even if I should change ISP's. I 
honestly have only a vague idea of how the Internet works behind the 
curtain.

Suppose, for the sake of discussion, that I go on the website of some 
domain registrar, and become abuc at andrewbuc.com. Who, then, becomes 
responsible for mail being forwarded from that address to my real 
attglobal.net mailbox? Is one domain-registration service more reliable 
(very important) than another on this score? I understand that it's 
also possible to transfer your domain from one registrar to another. 
Suppose that I sign up with a registrar and prepay for a domain for 5 
years. If that registrar later goes down the tubes, does the domain 
still stay mine while I'm sorting out a new mail-forwarding arrangement?

Thanks!