[pekk]

What makes this worse is that sometimes the alternative approach to #2 really is much easier, if the asker would do it. And sometimes, the asker really is wrong to regard it as more onerous. So we can't categorically ban that kind of response. But it's not automatically valid either. People will generate instances of both problems all day. So we're back to moderation to solve that somehow and moderation always has problems.

It's only a community problem when the community takes up a strong bias e.g. against the asker, and does things like closing questions aggressively. There is an underlying problem but the community has made it worse and closed off the natural compensation mechanisms.

As for lack of response to serious/challenging/useful questions (which already has a 'reputation' incentive) I'm afraid there's no way to solve that unless cash bounties will work.