It seems to me that the ability to merge threads (either automatically or through moderator action) would benefit this, and the problem of multiple posts on the same subject in general.

Although I don't agree with seeing popular, user generated content as a negative, but it's not my sandbox. I think it's at least better than yet another Techcrunch post or ceaseless bickering about class warfare and internecine SV politics.

Also, perhaps these threads should automatically expire weekly.

I'm not adamantly opposed to it, but it seems rote to me. As I've tried to explain, if there isn't a clear 'yes' then the default answer should be 'no'.

I wonder if there's a different path to getting the valuable part of it? It seems to me that instead of rushing to embalm experiments as regular features, we should just do more experiments.