diff --git a/lib/mv_web/live/member_live/index/view_settings.ex b/lib/mv_web/live/member_live/index/view_settings.ex
index f3e2644c..a2bf6652 100644
--- a/lib/mv_web/live/member_live/index/view_settings.ex
+++ b/lib/mv_web/live/member_live/index/view_settings.ex
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.Index.ViewSettings do
   @cookie_max_age 365 * 24 * 60 * 60
 
   @defaults %{
-    density: :compact,
+    density: :comfortable,
     compact_member: true,
-    member_include_email: false,
+    member_include_email: true,
     compact_address: true
   }
 
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.Index.ViewSettings do
 
   @doc "The global default view settings used when nothing is stored."
   @spec defaults() :: %{
-          density: :compact,
+          density: :comfortable,
           compact_member: true,
-          member_include_email: false,
+          member_include_email: true,
           compact_address: true
         }
   def defaults, do: @defaults
diff --git a/test/mv_web/live/member_live/index/view_settings_test.exs b/test/mv_web/live/member_live/index/view_settings_test.exs
index 44a86f96..35b09418 100644
--- a/test/mv_web/live/member_live/index/view_settings_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv_web/live/member_live/index/view_settings_test.exs
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.Index.ViewSettingsTest do
 
   alias MvWeb.MemberLive.Index.ViewSettings
 
-  test "defaults are all-compact with the email line off" do
+  test "defaults are comfortable density with the compact cells and email line on" do
     assert ViewSettings.defaults() == %{
-             density: :compact,
+             density: :comfortable,
              compact_member: true,
-             member_include_email: false,
+             member_include_email: true,
              compact_address: true
            }
   end
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.Index.ViewSettingsTest do
                # from cookie
                compact_address: false,
                # default
-               member_include_email: false
+               member_include_email: true
              }
     end
   end
diff --git a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_a11y_hardening_test.exs b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_a11y_hardening_test.exs
index c40a993c..25688428 100644
--- a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_a11y_hardening_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_a11y_hardening_test.exs
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexA11yHardeningTest do
     # LiveView test is that the guarded checkbox markup exists in both densities.
     assert has_element?(view, "#members-table-guard input[type='checkbox'].checkbox")
 
-    # Switch to comfortable via the view-settings dropdown.
+    # Toggle density via the view-settings dropdown (default is comfortable, so
+    # this switches to compact) to check the other density too.
     view |> element("[data-testid='view-settings-button']") |> render_click()
     view |> element("[data-testid='view-setting-density']") |> render_click()
     assert has_element?(view, "#members-table-guard input[type='checkbox'].checkbox")
diff --git a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_custom_fields_sorting_test.exs b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_custom_fields_sorting_test.exs
index 0355766b..2b29565d 100644
--- a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_custom_fields_sorting_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_custom_fields_sorting_test.exs
@@ -203,7 +203,12 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexCustomFieldsSortingTest do
     conn: conn,
     field_string: field
   } do
-    conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+    # Email is folded into the Member cell by default; turn the fold off so email
+    # is a separate, sortable column for this cross-column-sort test.
+    conn =
+      conn
+      |> conn_with_oidc_user()
+      |> Plug.Conn.put_session("member_view_settings", ~s({"member_include_email":false}))
 
     {:ok, view, _html} =
       live(
diff --git a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_default_columns_test.exs b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_default_columns_test.exs
index 5f5545d6..14259507 100644
--- a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_default_columns_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_default_columns_test.exs
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexDefaultColumnsTest do
     # Composite Name + Address cells.
     assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-name']")
     assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-address']")
-    # E-Mail is its own column by default (compact Member field, email line off).
-    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='email']")
+    # E-Mail is folded into the Member cell by default (include-email on), so it
+    # shows as the in-cell email line rather than a separate column.
+    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-name-email']")
     # Fee type, fee status, groups, join date headers.
     assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='membership_fee_type']")
     assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='join_date']")
@@ -47,17 +48,18 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexDefaultColumnsTest do
   test "the individual name/address sub-fields are hidden by default", %{conn: conn} do
     {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, ~p"/members")
 
-    # The composite Name/Address cells replace their constituents by default.
-    # E-Mail is excluded here: it is a default-visible column of its own.
-    for field <- ~w(first_name last_name city street house_number postal_code country) do
+    # The composite Name/Address cells replace their constituents by default, and
+    # the email is folded into the Member cell (include-email on), so no separate
+    # email column shows either.
+    for field <- ~w(first_name last_name email city street house_number postal_code country) do
       refute has_element?(view, "[data-testid='#{field}']")
     end
   end
 
   test "an explicit field selection still overrides the curated default", %{conn: conn} do
-    {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, ~p"/members?fields=email")
+    {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, ~p"/members?fields=join_date")
 
-    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='email']")
+    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='join_date']")
     refute has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-name']")
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_density_test.exs b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_density_test.exs
index dac7c3a6..bbe17f73 100644
--- a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_density_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_density_test.exs
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexDensityTest do
     view
   end
 
-  test "defaults to compact when nothing is stored", %{conn: conn} do
+  test "defaults to comfortable when nothing is stored", %{conn: conn} do
     {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, ~p"/members")
 
-    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='members-table-scroll'][data-density='compact']")
-    # The compact-mode toggle reflects the active (compact) state.
+    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='members-table-scroll'][data-density='comfortable']")
+    # The compact-mode toggle reflects the active (comfortable, i.e. not compact) state.
     open_view_settings(view)
-    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='view-setting-density'][aria-checked='true']")
+    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='view-setting-density'][aria-checked='false']")
   end
 
   test "toggle switches the density token and the control state", %{conn: conn} do
@@ -41,12 +41,12 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexDensityTest do
     open_view_settings(view)
     view |> element("[data-testid='view-setting-density']") |> render_click()
 
-    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='members-table-scroll'][data-density='comfortable']")
-    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='view-setting-density'][aria-checked='false']")
-
-    # Toggling again returns to compact.
-    view |> element("[data-testid='view-setting-density']") |> render_click()
     assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='members-table-scroll'][data-density='compact']")
+    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='view-setting-density'][aria-checked='true']")
+
+    # Toggling again returns to comfortable.
+    view |> element("[data-testid='view-setting-density']") |> render_click()
+    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='members-table-scroll'][data-density='comfortable']")
   end
 
   test "restores a persisted density from the session on reload", %{conn: conn} do
diff --git a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_field_visibility_test.exs b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_field_visibility_test.exs
index fc1e6fa4..0741c8f7 100644
--- a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_field_visibility_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_field_visibility_test.exs
@@ -255,7 +255,9 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexFieldVisibilityTest do
 
   describe "URL parameter persistence" do
     test "field selection is persisted in URL", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      # Email is offered as a togglable column only when it is not folded into the
+      # Member cell; unfold it so the dropdown lists it.
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
       {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, "/members")
 
       # Open dropdown and hide email
@@ -374,7 +376,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexFieldVisibilityTest do
     end
 
     test "handles rapid toggling", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
       {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, "/members")
 
       # Open dropdown
diff --git a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_member_fields_display_test.exs b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_member_fields_display_test.exs
index 7b1785bf..6b6e9329 100644
--- a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_member_fields_display_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_member_fields_display_test.exs
@@ -38,9 +38,8 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexMemberFieldsDisplayTest do
     conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
     {:ok, _view, html} = live(conn, "/members")
 
-    # The composite Member cell carries first + last name; the in-cell email
-    # line stays off by default, but the email is surfaced in its own column
-    # (compact Member field, include-email off).
+    # The composite Member cell carries first + last name and the in-cell email
+    # line (include-email on by default), so all three values are rendered.
     for m <- [m1, m2], field <- [m.first_name, m.last_name, m.email] do
       assert html =~ field
     end
diff --git a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_test.exs b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_test.exs
index fbff9f47..3b499de3 100644
--- a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_test.exs
@@ -174,7 +174,9 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexTest do
     # those tests additionally opt out via `non_compact/1`. Either way a `fields`
     # param rides on every push_patch, hence the relaxed substring assertions.
     test "clicking a column header toggles sort order and updates the URL", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      # Email is folded into the Member cell by default; unfold it to a separate
+      # sortable column for this column-sort test.
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
       {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, "/members?fields=email")
 
       # The component data test ids are built with the name of the field
@@ -247,7 +249,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexTest do
     end
 
     test "sorting works with search query", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
       {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, "/members?fields=email&query=test")
 
       view
@@ -261,7 +263,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexTest do
     end
 
     test "sorting maintains search query when toggling order", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
 
       {:ok, view, _html} =
         live(conn, "/members?fields=email&query=test&sort_field=email&sort_order=asc")
@@ -280,7 +282,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexTest do
   describe "URL param handling" do
     @describetag :ui
     test "handle_params reads sort query and applies it", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
 
       {:ok, view, _html} =
         live(conn, "/members?fields=email&query=&sort_field=email&sort_order=desc")
@@ -300,7 +302,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexTest do
     end
 
     test "handle_params preserves search query with sort params", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
 
       {:ok, view, _html} =
         live(conn, "/members?fields=email&query=test&sort_field=email&sort_order=desc")
@@ -313,7 +315,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexTest do
   describe "search and sort integration" do
     @describetag :ui
     test "search maintains sort state", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
 
       {:ok, view, _html} =
         live(conn, "/members?fields=email&query=&sort_field=email&sort_order=desc")
@@ -328,7 +330,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexTest do
     end
 
     test "sort maintains search state", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
 
       {:ok, view, _html} =
         live(conn, "/members?fields=email&query=test&sort_field=email&sort_order=asc")
@@ -1607,7 +1609,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexTest do
     end
 
     test "boolean filters are preserved during navigation actions", %{conn: conn} do
-      conn = conn_with_oidc_user(conn)
+      conn = conn |> conn_with_oidc_user() |> non_compact()
       boolean_field = create_boolean_custom_field()
 
       {:ok, view, _html} =
diff --git a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_view_settings_test.exs b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_view_settings_test.exs
index 483a8214..10407c07 100644
--- a/test/mv_web/member_live/index_view_settings_test.exs
+++ b/test/mv_web/member_live/index_view_settings_test.exs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexViewSettingsTest do
   §1.20 — the view-settings dropdown toggles: the composite "Member" and address
   fields, the "include email" sub-toggle and their effect on the rendered
   columns. Turning a composite off surfaces the underlying separate columns.
-  §1.2 — email is not in the Member cell by default.
+  §1.2 — email is folded into the Member cell by default (include-email on).
   """
   use MvWeb.ConnCase, async: false
 
@@ -34,20 +34,23 @@ defmodule MvWeb.MemberLive.IndexViewSettingsTest do
     view
   end
 
-  test "member cell hides the email line by default", %{conn: conn} do
+  test "member cell shows the email line by default", %{conn: conn} do
     {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, ~p"/members")
 
     assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-name']")
-    refute has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-name-email']")
+    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-name-email']", "ada@example.com")
   end
 
-  test "the include-email sub-toggle surfaces the email line in the member cell", %{conn: conn} do
+  test "the include-email sub-toggle removes the email line from the member cell", %{conn: conn} do
     {:ok, view, _html} = live(conn, ~p"/members")
 
+    # Email is folded into the Member cell by default; the sub-toggle turns it off.
+    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-name-email']", "ada@example.com")
+
     open_view_settings(view)
     view |> element("[data-testid='view-setting-member-include-email']") |> render_click()
 
-    assert has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-name-email']", "ada@example.com")
+    refute has_element?(view, "[data-testid='member-name-email']")
   end
 
   test "turning off the compact member field shows separate name columns", %{conn: conn} do