2009/4/22 doc doc.wikipedia@ntlworld.com:
I'd say that "the reader question" is less pertinent for any start up than the "writer question".
I don't think the two questions can be separated. Without the feedback between the two (readers becoming writers) you'll never get exponential growth and without that you'll never reach a size where you are useful.
I completely agree with you than new Wikipedia-like projects need to be substantially different to Wikipedia if they are going to get anywhere. However, achieving significant growth will still be a requirement for any such project. You mention a project 1/100 the size of Wikipedia. Citizendium is currently 1/250 the size of the English Wikipedia and at its current growth rate it won't reach 1/100 the size for another 3 years or so - I don't think the project will last that long unless there are major changes. People will just get bored and leave. At its current size, even if Citizendium was significantly more reliable than Wikipedia, it still wouldn't be useful.
As for your "otherpedia" - I would like to think we can achieve something like that within Wikipedia. An enhanced version of Featured Articles, making use of FlaggedRevs and verified experts, could achieve the same goals are your "otherpedia".