[dalke]

Hmm. I've seen that it's pretty easy to get published. What's difficult for experienced academics / researchers is that they want to get published in journals with a high prestige rate. This is used as a proxy for one's "impact" on the field, with effects on one's standing in a department, pay grade, career advancement, etc.

Other than that quibble, I agree with your points.

[CyberFonic]

As you say in your reply to the question, there are many journals who will publish almost anything just to get paid. We have all heard about the gibberish papers that get publish in Nature, etc.

Even for the average joe, publishing their findings in such a journal will very likely trigger the "crank" flag and thus erode any credibility.

[dalke]

You're right. I was thinking more about priority, and forgot the original question also included "taken seriously."