LOL

Avoiding extra work was the reason for commiting to a user-database integrated solution - not to mention getting everything set up per-user can be a significant challenge to thos who've never utililized a chat client.

We did run an IRC channel in the past - the results were very mixed.

Also great info that can be exchanged in chat gets lost in terms of reference mateial - no way to archive or search that unless you want to pore through logs. Chief reason for keeping it as a scheduled service.

(EDIT: I do however greatly appreciate your efforts in this )