You can configure LCES to send email notification through the adminui interface. This will allow you to receive new task in your Inbox as oppose to Workspace and other email notifications. That has nothing to do with sending emails with the Send Email with Attachment service.
If you want to use the Send Email with Attachments, you need to configure it on the service under "Edit Configuration" or in the Connection Settings section under Properties for the service.
If you import an LCA, you don't import the service configuration. You still need to make sure the service is configured properly in you manual install. If they are the same , then something else is not configure properly. If you configure you Send Email using the Properties/Connection Settings, then they will come through when you import your lca.
I don't believe it's related to LCES unable to connect to the SMTP server.
Jasmin