true. its a simpler, even dumber model. but the core thing - following people's posts - is preserved. And there are other benefits, and I'm really dating myself here - but it was nice that engaging with RSS often involved visiting someone's personal website - often a richer, quirkier and crankier space for self-expression than the few fields offered by the twitter profile.

benefit #2 is that it just slows information down. I know I'm tilting at windmills on this one. But somehow the very speed of information on twitter seems to be a component of its societal risk. speed limit for memes?