I have solved this for my situation by changing Windows' security settings to NOT scan the TB message logs every time I send or retrieve mail. There is a big post about this somewhere in the Mozilla system, but I can't find it again. Surely something...
Me too! I'm now on 128.5.2esr and TB's speed not getting better. TB seems to get stuck on the "Checking feeds for new items..." process that happens before it starts downloading - both processes are slow. I minimize the amount I download by using Mai...