It would be interesting if someone did a study on initial interactions between newcomers and oldbies to see if anything can be improved. But IMHO the best way to avoid newbies getting "bitten" is to help them avoiding newbie mistakes in the first place - a good interface, the right help and a few safety checks would go a long way. ("Whoa there newbie, you just wiped the whole page. Here's how not to do that...")
Steve
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Well, hm. Hard to explain there as an "oldbie" what it was like as a newbie. I happened to have good interactions based on concerns I had, as Newyorkbrad went over in a Wikipedia Weekly cast. I only registered an account because the History of Alaska was messed up and I thought it more appropriate to have an account to complain :) . I've seen thousands of editors come and go not only because of initial experience, but just passion and care. There's no real matrix for it. ~Keegan