I can see the passion most definitely in your comment. From my experience in online marketing is anything that requires too effort from the user is killing whatever you are trying to accomplish. Keeping a high quality of content is key and fostering the right culture is too. But when it comes to messaging and getting people in the door, the message has to be clear, concise and grab people on an emotional level.
Later on, you can sell them on the benefits of x,y,z technology for the whole society but first you have to tell them what's in it for them right here, right now so that they stay long enough to comprehend you are trying to accomplish on a bigger scale.
Exactly. People adopted FB because it was easy yet interesting, fun, convenient, etc.
I definitely have no problem seeing the 'get paid' aspect included, especially while we have no competition, it's a draw. If the money is the only pitch, that's all they expect coming in..the money. I think we can find a good balance like 'get paid to build a better community' or something like that.