Hello rembertw,

Very interesting points.

Just one common question - do you believe that introducing prize would actually reduce the base of users of WCG? People with altruistic approach can just ignore the winning and give back the prize, would not it be then the same as today?

I have used money ($500) in the thread name to see the interest and guess what - number of views of this thread got immediately high as opposed to some other threads I and others did that were other improvement ideas! My intuition is, that giving out prices would draw MASSES of wcg contributors, and this is what we actually need.

If we would like to see the "competition" as a continuous effort, possibly prize could be given every few months?
If we assume that "finding" special result will end the project - then we could also make sure place 2,3,...n would be honored. Possibly at least with mentioning the co-winner on the list.

Should one project end, another one is going to be opened, there are many of them running in parallel now.
As to finding the winning user, it is the same problem as lotteries have since centuries - if the winner does not show up, the price goes to the next competition or might be granted to the 2nd place winner - somebody with most promising result, most time contributed, etc

As to USD EUR etc - of course! The $500 from the thread name is just the prize given in the referenced project.

Did you miss the post by Bill?That means it's not going to happen. In fact, the charter of WCG prevents it. Feel free to stir up sentiment that will lead to further demands and interest, but that serves no valuable purpose to WCG except get everyone riled up about an idea THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I'm thankful for that. I ask that you just let it go. Asked and answered.