[blacksmith_tb]

The micropayments could be handled via one of those 20 companies. For example, it would be fairly easy for Doubleclick to have users set up an account and fund it with a few bucks, and then they'd pay TechCrunch .01 USD when the user read an article. In effect it'd be a sort of protection racket, if you don't want see any ads, pay up.

[MisterBastahrd]

Which is why this will never be viable. Internet content providers are radio stations, not performers. They aren't going to Spotify themselves.

[fweespeech]

...and then its the same overhead because they are the ones collecting. You are just shifting who bears the cost of customer service.