Valid points, all.

Although it would be nice to see everyone contribute, I know that that is usually not the nature of people, groups, boards, etc.  

If given a choice, IMHO, I'd rather that a given lurker remain as quiet as they wish until they are ready to participate/contribute.

My experience with some other boards is that prompting, prodding, or awarding points to someone for contributing quantity without regard to quality will more often than not result in something worse than the lack of participation does.  Ironically, it then usually follows that if such induced contributions are eventually policed for quality, the Holier-Than-Thou's of the given cyber micro-world ignite an off-topic crusade of self-perpetuating, self-congratulatory piling-on against the perceived "offender(s)" and we are then immersed even deeper into tangential, off-topic bilge.

Just my cynical 2 pfennigs worth.

Tschuss!
Hunter

I know I mentioned money as a jest in my post above, but their is a measure of truth to the idea that if it’s good, it ought to be worth something tangible. Perhaps a small trinket, a 6 pack of beer, or other assorted prizes would suffice for those who go the extra mile. Don’t know if this idea can actually work, but it’s worth mulling over.