IM? Email? Neither or Both?

Interesting survey by AP-AOL reviews the generational gap in technology preferences - younger communicators tend to prefer im, while older (ouch) communicators overwhelmingly prefer email or phone contact. http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/ptech/12/08/im.poll.ap/index.html. What makes im so attractive with younger folks? What am I missing? Personally I don't generally im because either I've got one thought or question (so I email) or I want the faster interaction that a phone call provides. I'm a fairly quick keyboarder thanks to high school typing lessons and being a programmer 20 years ago, but still find phone most helpful for emotional nuances of a conversation. Should I try to catch up and catch on, or should I just chalk this up to another great example of the juicy diversity that exists all around us?