Thanks for the support, didn't know about your rep suggestion. The problem with rep is that it's a vanity metric (you can still post with low rep if you use the cli-wallet).
As for the mitigating the potential objections, yes, I agree with both.
There are still a few edge cases in which the comment fee can be abused, like, for instance, when someone posts an insult about somebody else and sets a ridiculously high comment fee, thus limiting the number of comments (or the possibility for the target to defend at all) making it seem legit. That's a form of extortion and I'm thinking at ways to mitigate this. Ideas?
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that cli-wallet workaround.
I just envisioned a warning above the 'reply' field.
We're a pretty smart bunch. If I post a furious rant or specific accusation about you, and set the requirement at anything but zero, I'm going to look like a bit of a putz.
You can always respond by downvoting the post, as I'm sure would many others.
That's true. Also funny :) And yes, downvoting is always available. I'm not resorting to it at all, by principle, but in some cases it may be a solution.
One big issue I can see with your suggestion would be that commenting would trigger the 'sign in' popup box, as it requires the Active Key, since it's spending from the wallet.
(Unless I'm missing something)
As things are right now, yes, it will trigger an active key popup, unless people are signed in with their master password.
Two thoughts.
Could it be set to apply only to steemians the author doesn't currently follow, perhaps even an automatic refund if the author likes the comment enough to follow the commenter?
That's another interesting idea. Thanks, will put it in the pile.