SpamArchive is an interesting initiative to create a database of spam that can be used to test anti-spam tools. They will accept submissions and contributions of existing spam databases to create a "quality" collection with the widest possible range. I believe this is a great way to help in the implementation of effective tools to deal with spam.

Although some are predicting the end of e-mail because of spam, I have observed most people I know which receive large amounts of bogus messages are usually willing to ignore them since e-mail is a tool too useful to be dispensed with.

Also, new tools may yet prove themselves at least sufficiently effective to reduce spam to a minimum allowing the continuity of e-mail as we know it. People can learn to create their own defenses to spam in the form of whitelists, tagging at the servers, and other techniques that can be used in conjunction to block almost all possible spam. Spammers will try to catch on, but I believe a strong community of anti-spam tool developers may be just what we need to win this fight.