@manton The way in which Micro.blog has changed my approach to online identity, and all of the aspects therein, has been profound. I think the current version could be put to good use before we even get to the obvious case study for private, team-based functionality.

Even from a political viewpoint for governance; how much easier would it be to legislate against the likes of Facebook and Twitter if you were not also immediately reliant on them. This has greater potential with the likes of Micro.blog precisely because it is not attempting to be a direct replacement for the silos, and would in fact open the door for a variety of independent networks to be considered valuable alternatives. I know at first it can feel this kind of thing goes against the stereotype of laborious bureaucracy but that's exactly why it would be good to start at the local level.