One advantage of an Outlook.com email account is that it allows you to create alias email addresses that auto forwards to your primary email. You can even respond or send email using the alias email address protecting your primary account. When or if you end up getting too much spam, than just delete the alias email, and create another. I have about 3 alias email address forwarding to my primary account which I use for Craigslist. I'm accessing those emails through Thunderbird.
I also believe Outlook.com still allows you to forward emails to another email provider, so that's another option. As mentioned, you can use an email client, but limited to POP3 access unless you use MS proprietary client for IMAP like access. Basically, POP3 doesn't allow access to all your folders as IMAP would.
Outlook.com has also previously stated that they do not scan emails for marketing purposes. I'm guessing, at least for now?
