Inserting the metadata is fine ... could be additive to identification and sourcing, but you touch on the recurrent theme / old media mentality: "if we close our eyes and wish upon a star, the world will return to 1958." Good luck with that thesis.

Jeff - this post is "strong to quite strong". The self promotion aspect of Twitter really turns me off. I originally fell for Twitter peek at what other smart / interesting folks were reading or saying. However, the bots, hired hands constantly repurposing links drives me nuts.

The problem you pose relates to "limited scale businesses". A sizable, VC return-driven exit is based on a market and business being scalable. Without the potential for creating or stealing sufficient share of a scaleable market, a risk investor must take a pass. Not every business needs, nor should want VC money. It is the branding and the hope of participating in a lucrative exist which puts the stars in an entrepreneurs eyes.

Enjoyed the post. We need to remember that the consumer Internet is <20 years old. Trust continues to be limiting factor among certain users ... not just whether to input medical or financial data, but also to engage and open up our hearts and minds to fellow users. Photos are an attempt to break down those barriers. Seeing my wife's picture when my iPhone rings brings a smile to my face as well ... one of life's simple pleasures to get you through the day.

I had been experimenting with various avatars for fun, but have come back to a personal photo. I get grief from friends for my photo since it looks so serious, when in fact my daughter snapped it while I was reading blogs.