RE: show me the money

["Geoff Jenkins" <jenkinsg@pilot.msu.edu>]

I think that there are a couple of problems with all this. I agree that $20
is a bargain for what the list provides, and I'd be happy to pay that or
more, but we all know that because we know the list.

I'd be very wary of not having "basic" free coverage, e.g. the list is free,
but the archives, FAQs etc need membership, or negotiate membership
discounts for _only_ those with IDs etc. I'm not sure that I'd pay $20 ex
ante without seeing what I'm getting. Look at some of the other Audi (or
automotive in general) sites/lists out there. How many of them would be
worth payment, even _after_ you get to know them? Not all. So, how do we
identify this as the mother lode, when that's what half the net claims for
itself? By letting newbies bask in the magnificence of the list.

As for tools, I can't imagine anything worse than the arguments that follow
"you're charging me $20 to help pay for a tool for A4s? I drive a 4000!" and
so on. There's a good reason that only the government gets to identify what
needs to be provided as public goods.

Geoff