I think you have missed one role for Google with Knol - it not only offers a platform and pays for content, it also offers the distribution channel that over years has proved to work incredibly well for other content providers. What I don't understand is why many people don't see pure business logic behind Knol for Google - it has finally realized it sends way too much traffic elsewhere and decided it should keep it to itself (and make money off it). - Svetlana Gladkova via FriendFeed MT Plugin

Google should really make knol a standard and let anyone host them. - Charlie via FriendFeed MT Plugin