I think your SSL protocols on your PC have to be set for an actual sent message that's encrypted.
Safe mail is encrypted however certain things do need to be set up in the preferences of individual accounts. Specifically safe-mail will send unencrypted emails to users whose domain does not have the capability to decrypt (Gmail, yahoo, etc.). The safe-mail user has to manually change this setting. It can be changed so that the non se sure encrypting re ipient dies NOT receive an unencrypted email but rather receives insfructions to retrieve the encrypted email.
We only do business with secure encrypted email addresses which is why we ask that emails sent to us be sent to us from se urea encrypted services. When we get emails from yahoo Gmail St. We do try to reply and ask that a safe-mail be set up by the emailed.
I don't think I explained that well, basically you are partly correct but we have our settings in in he high security mode so your post does not apply to us.