Thinking about Syncing

I installed MyPhone Beta yesterday to see how it would help me, with the expectation that it would fill the gaps with regard to my Windows Mobile Device synchronisation. I think I must be missing the point because all it appears to be is yet-another Microsoft online data storage/sync program along with Windows Live, Windows Live Mobile, Live Sync, ActiveSync, SkyDrive, Mesh et al. This is becoming very confusing. I was hoping for some convergence in these applications, but no.

I recently migrated my email from Exchange Server to Windows Live (worthy of a posting on its own). I use Outlook 2003 as my desktop client, synced with Windows Live using Outlook Connector 12.1. This works great, syncing email, contacts and my calendar. I sync my PDA with Windows Live to get email and contacts, but have to sync it with Outlook (using ActiveSync) to get the tasks, and calendar items.

I guess the intention of My Phone is really just a backup tool for my phone. So what does MyPhone give me that Windows Live Synch doesn't?
1/ I get an online Calendar Sync, but that is independent from my Windows Live Calendar.
2/ I get to backup my text messages online
3/ I can backup my task items
4/ I can backup my multimedia: photos, music, videos, documents (but not on my data plan)

As a Windows Live and ActiveSync user, none of this is of any use to me except for maybe the text messages backup, for when I buy a new phone. All I want is to be able to sync my email, calendar items, and contacts between my desktop, the web, and my phone.

Meanwhile, some more problems with syncing...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmOTpIVxji8