Changing iCloud Back Up Email Address

[gemz4the1]

I remember a few years ago I was told in the Apple store that I had to have an iCloud email address in order to back up certain things from my iPhone.

However as the years have gone by I have now been told that an iCloud email address is no longer required and a normal Hotmail email address on iCloud can back up everything (including notes).

Is this true?

If so, I want to swap everything from the iCloud email address to the Hotmail email address but obviously I have to delete it to add the new one and I don't want to risk losing any from my phone.

[Anonymous]

From what I remember icloud e mail address is needed if you want to back up your notes.

I created one for this reason.

[gemz4the1]

I remember seeing somewhere, although I can't find the link at the moment, that it is no longer necessary to have an iCloud email account as notes can be saved to a Hotmail email account. 

Does it make much difference that my Apple and iTunes use my Hotmail account and the back up is in the iCloud account?

[Anonymous]

I have a gmail account and notes are saved to that and as far as I remember it always has (though not 100% sure on that)