To clarify, all browsers CAN handle the mailto link as long as the user configures it to open the correct email client. That’s key because there’s many oblivious users who don’t even know about this setting (we know from the number of support requests we get from users angry that the contact link they created on their websites “don’t work”!). :)
Because of the prevalence of webmail like gmail (most of our users are on gmail) there’s many users who aren’t aware that it needs to be configured to open the said webmail page, so the mailto links does nothing. A “Contact me” or “contact support” mailto link won’t open anything, or it will open the default mail client like Mac Mail on Mac....On Windows in the past it would open outlook express lol. :)
I still don't see how webmail has anything to do with it. In fact opening Gmail prompts me to make it my default mail handler.
Users can fail to configure mailto links to point at their preferred email client irrespective of it being web-based or native. (Unless it is the default for the platform I guess)
> Users can fail to configure mailto links to point at their preferred email client irrespective of it being web-based or native. (Unless it is the default for the platform I guess)
That's more the issue. It's just misconfiguration and users who are oblivious to that setting. In the past, I don't believe that Gmail prompts you to make it your default handler, and from the number of support requests we received due to this issue, it's clear that a good number of users do not have their mailto handlers configured.
That being said seeing the email is nice anyways in case you need to share it with someone or type it into your phone.