When the author submitted his previous article I replied here at HN with the Clay Shirky link and a thought experiment. I like how the new article contains the Clay Shirky link and a thought experiment but doesn't mention Hacker News, or the discussion we had here, at all.
Anyway, I predict failure. Let me know when there's stock I can sell short.
When I wrote the original article I was already aware of Shirky's views on micro payments, but it's true that the comments both here and on my blog made me understand that this issue was more important than I had previously thought - and so for that I am certainly grateful to you.
As to my use of a 'thought experiment' - well I've been doing them ever since I tried to get my head around relativity 20 years ago. I can't remember if Shirky uses a thought experiment in his original article, but even if he does, I don't see it as being particularly relevant.
As to you wanting to short our (yet inexistent stock) - well, I can see you're upset, but isn't that a bit harsh?
Anyway, I predict failure. Let me know when there's stock I can sell short.