Maveric149 wrote in part:
IMO it would also make it much
less obvious that anyone /can/
edit any page just by logging-in
-- all they would see was "Protected
page" where the edit button should
be and "Log-in." That doesn't make
it obvious we are a wiki, no?
If we require /everybody/ to log in, then
it shouldn't say that. It should say "'''Edit
this page'''" with a nice bright link -- that
sends them to the log in page (returning
to the edit page).
That is a bit misleading, no? I've had this trick played on me many times by
clicking on a link that indicates there is content behind it just to be
presented with a "free-registration" screen. My time is precious to me and
when I'm presented with the reg screen I almost always hit the back button.
Likewise many people who just want to test the system by correcting a typo
will be put-off by the reg screen; we thus loose the opportunity to snag
another editor.
The NY Times does this type of thing and as a result I never read it on-line.
If and when "anon edits" become a problem then we can think about restricting
things (IMO this will never be a serious enough problem to warrent such
action).
-- Daniel Mayer (aka mav)