[scorciapino]

I simply can't believe so many people are paying that exorbitant price tag ($1600 to $16000 an year) to have zero-profit niche Q&A website.

It doesn't make sense financially, and they could sponsor free software development of the already mentioned clones.

[bugs]

I'm pretty sure it is because it is in beta and free: http://stackexchange.com/pricing

[amock]

Someone mentioned in another HN thread or a comment somewhere else that none of those sites are actually paying anything yet, so maybe they're hoping that by the time they have to start paying they'll be making enough money to make it worthwhile.

[kylec]

A few site owners have indicated that they will be paying for StackExchange, but I suspect you're right that most won't.

http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/4118/will-you-pay-fo...