Version: 1.9.9 (using KDE 3.5.9) Installed from: Mac OS X (Fink) Packages OS: OS X Versions 1.8 and earlier of Kmail allowed me to delete messages instead of "moving them to trash". This was one of three features which encouraged me to use Kmail instead of other mail programs. This option has now been removed, and I can no longer delete messages without Kmail forcing me to back them up. As someone who needs to delete around 1000 messages a day, requiring me to copy all of these messages to a trash folder before I can get rid of them is intolerable. Please replace this feature.
The delete function is of course still there, it's just not bound to the Delete key by default, since more naive users expect that to move to trash and disappointing them in that expectations leads to mail loss. It's shift-delete, but you can of course reconfigure it to be Delete again. Settings Menu -> Configure shortcuts.
Closing.