Mark Hurst touts the advantages of emptying the inbox regularly in a Forbes article published yesterday:
"Here’s how to manage incoming e-mail: Keep the
inbox empty–clear out incoming e-mails before they pile up or you lose
your ability to manage them effectively."
He makes it sound so simple. The article goes on to explain some ways to acomplish this task, including the use of the oft repeated "two-minute rule:" if you
can address the message in less than two minutes, do it and file or
delete it.
For more detail, read The Secrets to E-Mail Nirvana.