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 It seems clear we need some sort of alternative "trusted contact list" NIP. This would also be useful for stuff like app binary distribution if we replace pgp verification. 
 If you overcomplicate it at the protocol level, it will be a huge mess and no one will use it. 
 This is not true. We all use lots of things everyday that are complicated under the hood.

Complicated at the protocol level != complicated for users. 
 Popular complicated protocols had corporate backing and no organic adoption. Nostr does not have that luxury. 
 Bitcoin is complicated at the protocol level, from the perspective of the vast majority of users. If Satoshi had pitched the idea over coffee in 2008, how many of us would have rejected it off the bat as something no one will ever use bc it’s “too complicated?”

It is a mistake, one that is frequently made, to reject proposals out of hand bc they’re “too complicated” without considering what that means.

Too complicated for users?

Too complicated for developers? 
 From the perspective of users, everything is complicated. My point is that if it's complicated for devs as well, no devs will even work with it. 
 All attempts at getting WoT to work ever since PGP release in 1991 have been dismal failures. It’s like we’re trying to fly before the Wright brothers showed us how. Or calculate Mercury’s orbit before Einstein showed us how. Or get e-cash to work before Satoshi showed us how. Whatever we’re missing, we need to figure it out. And the right answer might very well appear too complicated at first glance. 
 This is not true. We all use lots of things everyday that are complicated under the hood.

Complicated at the protocol level != complicated for users. 
 Popular complicated protocols had corporate backing and no organic adoption. Nostr does not have that luxury. 
 Bitcoin is complicated at the protocol level, from the perspective of the vast majority of users. If Satoshi had pitched the idea over coffee in 2008, how many of us would have rejected it off the bat as something no one will ever use bc it’s “too complicated?”

It is a mistake, one that is frequently made, to reject proposals out of hand bc they’re “too complicated” without considering what that means.

Too complicated for users?

Too complicated for developers? 
 From the perspective of users, everything is complicated. My point is that if it's complicated for devs as well, no devs will even work with it. 
 All attempts at getting WoT to work ever since PGP release in 1991 have been dismal failures. It’s like we’re trying to fly before the Wright brothers showed us how. Or calculate Mercury’s orbit before Einstein showed us how. Or get e-cash to work before Satoshi showed us how. Whatever we’re missing, we need to figure it out. And the right answer might very well appear too complicated at first glance. 
 Good that I'm not in charge 😉 
 It sucks if it's not interoperable, it's kind of antiethical 
 Bitcoin is complicated at the protocol level, from the perspective of the vast majority of users. If Satoshi had pitched the idea over coffee in 2008, how many of us would have rejected it off the bat as something no one will ever use bc it’s “too complicated?”

It is a mistake, one that is frequently made, to reject proposals out of hand bc they’re “too complicated” without considering what that means.

Too complicated for users?

Too complicated for developers? 
 From the perspective of users, everything is complicated. My point is that if it's complicated for devs as well, no devs will even work with it. 
 All attempts at getting WoT to work ever since PGP release in 1991 have been dismal failures. It’s like we’re trying to fly before the Wright brothers showed us how. Or calculate Mercury’s orbit before Einstein showed us how. Or get e-cash to work before Satoshi showed us how. Whatever we’re missing, we need to figure it out. And the right answer might very well appear too complicated at first glance. 
 From the perspective of users, everything is complicated. My point is that if it's complicated for devs as well, no devs will even work with it. 
 All attempts at getting WoT to work ever since PGP release in 1991 have been dismal failures. It’s like we’re trying to fly before the Wright brothers showed us how. Or calculate Mercury’s orbit before Einstein showed us how. Or get e-cash to work before Satoshi showed us how. Whatever we’re missing, we need to figure it out. And the right answer might very well appear too complicated at first glance.