[gord]

Why not just launch a startup and build a superb reader that solves the problem and looks nice?

Wouldn't it be better to have the freedom to implement your own version of what the ultimate Reader is, especially in newer tech [ websockets, node.js, realtime updates, drag to rearrange widgets .. whatever ]

Id love someone to make a nice reader [and a nice mail groups] web app, Id enjoy working on these myself. It must be more efficient to build these things outside of Google, as a startup.

An RSS reader with nice UI, realtime update, location sensitivity, smart filters, and unobtrusive social features .. you had me at RSS :]

[brlewis]

That might be too much like what he just did: http://blog.friendfeed.com/2008/01/another-new-friendfeeder....

(They sold to Facebook for $50MM)

[karolist]

I guess when the time to pay would come most people wouldn't bother and stick with whatever is good enough, in this case Google Reader.