I just wanted to post and say I found yours to be one of the more thoughtful, more understanding comments left in the trackback. Really, the people who are having issues are those who have tons of authors and blogs, and personally I don't fall into that category, so as long as the free one is there, I can use it.

Also, it seems that the non-free software will still let people create more, it's strictly an honor system thing. Most of the people are angry about the charges, but it's more like a slap in the face to those of us who've helped MT grow over the years. I, for one, shouldn't have to pay a dime to legally and freely upgrade, so I probably will, but I can certainly understand the frustration on the part of those more "power users" of MT, who will now either have to stick with old software, migrate, pay a lot, or hope that 6A drops their pricing.

Thanks for being one of the sane voices out there. :)

I have to say that I am considering switching over to Drupal. I currently use Blogger and was planning on making MT my summer project, but now that this has happened it looks like Drupal might be the answer for me.

I haven't quite understood how the pricing scheme works, but I imagine this might complicate the Wordherders' set-up just a little (multiple blogs, one with multiple authors). I do understand that the MT authors need to eat, but I feel like I've been pulled into a bait-and-switch.

Thanks, Brian; I try to sound sane. But I guess it's easier when someone else — my university — is footing the bill (if they do, I mean. And don't just cut the MT users loose. Then we'll see how understanding I am).

Just went over to look at Drupal, Samantha; I hadn't heard of it. I wonder if anyone has put together a handy comparison of features across programmes?

Yes, Chuck, I think it is the group bloggers who will really be hit. And it means that those of use using blogs for teaching will have to rethink how we do class blogs, if we can't just blithely make one for each course.

I totally agree with you - Six Apart deserve to eat and more. I would happily pay $50 for one installation of the software, since Wordherders actually only *uses* one installation (easier on the server that way and easier on my time).

But to maintain the level of MT blogging that Wordherders currently supports (for free, btw - I only ask that folks help out with the server cost, which averages out to be a whopping $12/year/person or so), I would have to buy --at least one at-- the $600 (introductory price!) corporate license.

So, we'll stick with the early version for now ... and weigh our options.

As far as teaching goes - this pretty much eliminates the possibility of having a single class blog where each student has posting rights. That's really a shame.

Wow. That is a shock. I was expecting between $35 and $50 (US) for personal use, and to see that cranked to $100, with hard limitations on number of blogs and number of authors, is a bit rough.

I don't see me upgrading to 3.0, is what this comes down to. I was already thinking it would be a headache, and paying that much for crippleware on top is just not in my life plans.

At the least, 6A needs to implement an educational pricing model that accounts for the concerns of instructors and universities and other non-profit organizations.

Maybe I missed the point but I think MT 3.0 will still be free to those who can spend a little time installing it. It's not hard, a little time consuming. I think Ben and Meena have been and are being generous to keep the free addition. They are just trying to charge where there is overuse or work involved. Institutions have always had to pay for software. Why fund Microsoft and not Mr and Ms Craetive?

The free version apparently has various restrictions. Of most concern to me is the restriction on number of blogs and users, as I have started to use blogs in teaching and so need lots: course blogs, blogs for students. There are apparently educational discounts which I will look into. But even if it is still practicable for me to use MT, if a large proportion of the community migrates--as looks to be the case--then I and others like me will lose a lot of the benefits of belonging to a vibrant support group.

I completely agree with you when you ask, "Why fund Microsoft and not Mr and Ms Creative?" (in fact, my own computers are Microsoft free zones.) But if you read the torrent of comments, few if any are denying anyone the right to make a living. Rather, they are complaining about the lack of warning and communication in general, the crippled format of the free version, the steepness of the price curve, and the restrictions on numbers of authors and blogs that penalize educational use and group blogs.

All that being said, migrating is not easy for many of us, and once the initial reactions have died down, perhaps most of us will stay put, either with outmoded versions, or by ponying up. In my own case a lot will depend on what my institution decides to do; they license version 2.6 but may decide to forgo paying for the upgrade.