[jasonkester]

15 years into the web and still we see new sites coming out with the "Go Away" pattern. I just don't understand it.

If a potential user has somehow managed to find his way onto your homepage, that's a big win for you. You need to take that opportunity to hook him as quickly and effectively as possible. Given the average attention span on the internet, you've got at most 5 seconds to avert the Back Button, then maybe 10 more to convince that user that your thing is worth investing some time in.

Know the absolute worst thing you can do at that point? Stick that user on a page with absolutely no information about your product, then assign him some chores to do so before you'll let him even find out. Like this:

http://readfa.st/signin