Unfortunately, I think this may be true.
Earlier, only messages from (auto-approved, or address-book) known contacts appeared in chats, and all other emails where only browsable (separate email INBOX listing).
But instead of fixing the remaining interoperability issues, the devs where driven towards a “keep it stupid” way that blocks all classic emails by default, but presents or asks about all Email-chat compatible messages to the user, and divides the deltachat users reachability…
With a little interest, a solution could cover several issues at once: