Can somebody from Microsoft please confirm what's going to happen with Windows Live Mail (WLM) in future and under what circumstances will it be able to be used in future?

I have been using WLM since it's introduction (and Windows Mail and Outlook Express going all the way back to Windows 95). This application ideally suits my purposes and up until recently, it has been working normally on my current Windows 10 Home (64 bit) desktops and laptops. Recent update issues and the related storm of news have suggested that Microsoft is scrapping WLM in favour of the 99% useless app built into Windows 10. I cannot afford to lose the numerous historic calendar entries and hundreds of e-mails (with associated attachments) stored locally on my PC's and several days have just been wasted tracking down a fix when the calendar entries disappeared without warning a day or so after a round of Windows 10 updates. My backups saved the day here but this scare implies a real risk that I may wake up one morning and find several year's a vital records gone without warning and without trace with no by-your-leave or thanks-for-the memories from a previously (moderately) reliable Microsoft. Hence the questions.

I've been given to understand that the recent problems only apply to people using the various Microsoft email systems (Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Live.com and the like) and/or being signed in with an MS account to enable syncing across devices.  Is this correct?

After much digging, I've also been led to believe that the advice from Microsoft about WLM ceasing to work properly after some planned near future changes at Microsoft really only applies to the MS account users and involves changes to the way the MS mail servers work rather than to the WLM application itself. Is this correct?

I do NOT use a Microsoft account (only set one up to get at this forum) and I have never "signed in" to WLM (or any of it's predecessors. All of my WLM records/documents are stored locally in the default hidden folders in the AppData directory structure. I have no need and no desire to sync them to anything.

The calendar is totally local and never online to sync with MS or anybody else.

The e-mail services (three separate accounts) used with WLM are domain specific (nothing remotely related to Microsoft) and part of the service from my Internet Service Provider. These are POP3/SMTP services but may have to move to IMAP in future.

• Will the planned changes to the Microsoft mail systems impact WLM in this standalone/local accounts only scenario?
• Will WLM itself continue to work into the future and, if so, for how long?

Please note that I'm not too concerned about ongoing development/support for WLM at the application level provided that it continues to work at current levels of functionality with domain specific IMAP/POP3/SMTP e-mail services and recognise it's own calendar data without being killed by a Microsoft update either directly or as collateral damage from a Windows 10 update.

I also do NOT accept being forced into use of a Microsoft account to use Windows 10 and normal desktop applications. I have no need and no desire for "apps" and no use for them (even if Microsoft enabled them) on my Symbian phone. If I could find a safe way of getting rid of all the "cloud" and social media/sharing apps on my PC without it corrupting the start menu in Windows 10, I would happily do it...but that's another story.

Clarification of these WLM matters would be greatly appreciated.