[stretchwithme]

If Facebook decides its worth changing how things work, I don't think how hard it is to change the code is going to be a factor.

They may even give you two options. The current version (call it Facebook for Dummies) and Facebook Pro (where you need to make a slight effort to manage things).

[phamilton]

The code change was just an example.

How many writers throw away the piece they've been working on and start anew?

That fresh start is invigorating, especially for those of us who've been with Facebook since the college only days. In those days it was "Let's see who I can meet on facebook", where today my primary use of facebook is to keep tabs on those I already know. So now I have a huge mix of acquaintances, friends, and family and of my 650 friends I care about maybe 50 of them. I've considered deleting my facebook account and the signing up again, but that would just confuse everyone. Google+ is a great excuse to start new and to file away all those random people from high school into my "People I don't care about" circle. If I need to get a hold of someone from those days, a quick post to that circle asking if anyone can help me get in touch will do wonders. For everything else, they don't exist.

[stretchwithme]

I see what you mean. And I'm eager to see how it works out. If its substantially better and easier and pulls in enough of the people I care about, I'll stop using Facebook too.

[burgerbrain]

The problem won't be making the code change, but rather convincing existing users it is worth the time to go retroactively categorize all their "friends".

[stretchwithme]

And they don't need to make everybody follow a different paradigm. They just need to support the new one and the existing one.