I think there are some people over at the V123 forums who aren't differentiating the good new features that have nothing to do with SmartCast from the mess that is SmartCast, which I guess is part of why I felt the need to make the point. No one over there who says they like the new system will say why, so I can only assume they like things that aren't related to SmartCast. Someone actually referred to the private leads they were getting, but that has *nothing* to do with SmartCast. Juan even stated that expressly early on after the change.
And people who don't have Joe's understanding of programming won't realize that most of the problems with SmartCast *CAN'T* be fixed. There's just no way to program what they think they want to do, or ought to be trying to do. They're trying to create a software program to act like an agent or casting director to do pre-screening, but not actually just to find the best talent, it also has to share out the auditions so less talented people or those who audition infrequently still get an opportunity (so V123 can justify taking their $300). But even without the additional complicating factors of "fairness", casting isn't a process that can be quantified - you can't reduce it to numbers or algorithms. Until artificial intelligence can get goosebumps, it ain't there.
As with politics, people are happy to vote against their own economic best interests if you just make it sound good to them, no truth required. :\
Alexis
And I haven't read Ayn Rand yet, though I've bought a couple of her books. Interestingly enough, I seem to recall someone else referring to her books over at the Savvy forums not all that long ago...
