I agree with (1) and (2), couldn't understand (3), found (4) a mistaken judgement and a wrong approach, there is nothing new about (5) as everybody knows sex sells so why is a google search with links leading to spyware and virus infected sites considered "better" by the author is completely ununderstandable, (6) is simply and awfully wrong - looking at Anshe Chung example (the woman who earned 2 milllion bucks in just two years from SL real estate business) is enough to see this and even a talented and smart person can earn very good money if he/she works fairly hard (just check SL architect Bill Stirling or fashion designer Julia Sooothsayer for instance), number (7) is plain silly and not...

I agree with (1) and (2), couldn't understand (3), found (4) a mistaken judgement and a wrong approach, there is nothing new about (5) as everybody knows sex sells so why is a google search with links leading to spyware and virus infected sites considered "better" by the author is completely ununderstandable, (6) is simply and awfully wrong - looking at Anshe Chung example (the woman who earned 2 milllion bucks in just two years from SL real estate business) is enough to see this and even a talented and smart person can earn very good money if he/she works fairly hard (just check SL architect Bill Stirling or fashion designer Julia Sooothsayer for instance), number (7) is plain silly and not worth talking about, finally (8) is so right and I agree, it's among the most important problems of SL.

Second Life has many real problems which the author did not touch, like the ridiculous "revenue model" based on the "tier" payments which make you pay a "rent" for a land you supposedly owned. Or the terrible urbanization planning which does not leave roads and streets between parcels so all those adjacent land pieces stuck to each other does not allow people to walk around. Also, the "prim count" limitation makes the SL experience unattractive, while dealing with that ridiculously old-fashioned 3D system not allowing mesh objects and forces you to create things using "primitives".

And of course, there is a very important "stability" problem about the database and infrastructure which causes hot debates and frustrations among SL users.

Linden Labs must first provide a stable system to SL users and merchants; then comes many social, economical and technical problems to be solved. Security is a big issue while rogue bastards can attack residents anytime, anywhere. "Tier system" is a robbery. Allowing FRP freaks and "strange creatures" to mix with "normal" residents, along with weapons and combat, makes SL look like a "silly game". These are the real problems.

Two hours is far less than "enough" to be initiated to SL, one needs at least a few days to get used to the rules and customs of the metaverse. I don't know it will be SL or other 3D metaverse, but this is surely the "next big thing" since the WWW was invented. If Linden Labs manages to survive, then they'll be the leader and dominate the new platform - or another competitor will take the lead. But 3D metaverses can't be downgraded to "AOL chatrooms" with the immense possibilities and the rich experience they potentially have. It all depends on what you expect and what you want to do. In a 3D metaverse, you can browse the "world", create content or use the content others created, interact wi...

Two hours is far less than "enough" to be initiated to SL, one needs at least a few days to get used to the rules and customs of the metaverse. I don't know it will be SL or other 3D metaverse, but this is surely the "next big thing" since the WWW was invented. If Linden Labs manages to survive, then they'll be the leader and dominate the new platform - or another competitor will take the lead. But 3D metaverses can't be downgraded to "AOL chatrooms" with the immense possibilities and the rich experience they potentially have. It all depends on what you expect and what you want to do. In a 3D metaverse, you can browse the "world", create content or use the content others created, interact with people, learn things and have fun. Just like you do in the WWW but with a more promising platform, harboring many possibilities. It's an "open-end" platform like most things on the Internet so it's the users that take SL to new heights, expanding the borders and limitations.

I keep my rights to criticise Linden Labs reserved but I must say, they did a "revolutionary" thing by inventing Second Life. So my congrats go to them anyways.