[sph]

No. Its usefulness is proportional to its size, and a paid version would just mean amplifying the bad sides of this site: elitism and US-centric middle-class posturing. Computing is at its best when it serves humanity as a whole, and this place, being one of the most diverse and large places to talk about computing, benefits from not being only populated by bored Silicon Valley FAANG workers.

On the other hand, as a relatively heavy user, a paywall means I could stop wasting time here and actually start doing some work.

[cies]

Cannot agree more. Putting ads and other distractions (like awards you can buy and give), are also a form of payment that I may or may not tolerate. Reddit went down that route, and HN reminds me of the early days of that platform (Aaron we miss you, we will never forget you were killed by the state).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYMpTgswAxc