How can I get Mac Mail to allow repeat of delete key or backspace key (Snow Leopard) I'm trying to find a way to have Mac Mail allow me to press and hold
either the "delete" key or the "backspace" key.  I'm on Snow Leopard
with a non-Apple keyboard.

Goal: delete a lot of emails, easily.  (Yes, I could highlight them
all and then press delete, but that takes LONGER than pressing/holding
the delete key would.)

I'd swear it used to work, but it hasn't for the past few months. I press delete (or backspace) and the current email message is deleted. I continue holding the key down, and … nothing.

Yes, the these two keys repeat in other apps (e.g., Safari URL entry line, or Terminal, or TextEdit), so it's clearly Mail being too clever for its own good.  

I've checked the Mail Preferences, and don't see anything pertinent.
You might be able to find a high end keyboard that has hardware key repeat, but it'd probably be a high end mechanical switch keyboard and set you back a lot of money.

Instead you should just learn to hold down shift-arrow key and then press the delete key at the end.