Filling email form fields

I use auto-text quite a bit, by convention all my shortcuts are preceded by a $. So $st expands to my street address, $em expands to my email, etc.

RIM provides form fields that can be designated as email input type. In those fields, hitting the space bar inserts a period or @ sign to assist typing in the email address.

That's nice, but it prevents me from using auto-text. It seems like a silly omission, because 99% of the time I'm entering my own address, be it in a login form, sign up form or somesuch. Why isn't there a way to enter my email into those fields except by typing?