Windows 7 - WLM--vs Outlook--vs Hotmail Web

If I get Hotmail messages online, what is the advantage to routing them into WLM program, or Outlook?

Is there any difference between Outlook and WLM? They appear to me to be the same.

Windows Live Mail can allow you to save your messages and contacts on your PC. It supports POP3, IMAP, and Hotmail access. Unlike Outlook Express for XP, or Windows Mail for Vista, WLM includes Hotmail access.

There are many email client programs in use on PCs. Windows 7 can support a couple provided by Microsoft: the paid software known as "Microsoft Outlook" and the free software known as "Windows Live Mail". Outlook requires an extra free tool in order to work with Hotmail: Microsoft Office Outlook Hotmail Connector overview - Outlook - Office.com

Web based email often has a timeout feature (maybe 10 minutes) for security reasons eg you forgot to logoff a public computer. Can be annoying if you are interrupted for some reason and lose your data.

With an email client on your pc you can leave a message open, and come back to it later.