The only hole in that balloon is that workers' time is worth money. {what the hell is doc talking about now?}. Which is more economically (and PR) beneficial?
1. The status quo: Where Support spends a gazillion hours (+/-) now and projected into the future because of less than optimally explained and demonstrated software causing the same questions and errors repeated endlessly and unhappy, frustrated and angry customers.
or maybe:
2. A well explained and demonstrated set of written instructions and Video which on installation of the software are saved to the customer's disk (and he/she is shown where) which will allow Support people (among them the Moderators) who type the same instructions repeatedly and explain (repeatedly) when Support is open and "not to resubmit or the original problem will be kicked to the back of the queue." to do other and more important projects?
Maybe those Support people will be able to do additional things at SD and help make WC more profitable that way too? Maybe they'll be able to solve problems sooner making happier folks as well?
Also, If the instructional vids and pdf's are really good, maybe SD will get Industry notice for customer service...a thing potential customers notice.
Island Dog's vids about the various apps are very well received... I think his idea should be given the full treatment, but I'm not involved with the cost consideration of such a solution... it might be prohibitively expensive.
There's also the consideration that Community members prepare those WinWiki articles and try to help others, and I'm not really sure that is worth giving up because it makes this Community so special. I'm discussing these options because I'm conflicted about the approach to these issues. I like aspects of both, to be honest.
Maybe the solution involves both. I don't know. I'm saying also that it's not necessarily an either/or. I'm also not in huge disagreement with the "anti hand holding" approach. As with many things: I agree to some degree, and disagree to some degree with many viewpoints.