Netflix/Qwikster

It goes without saying that this is a bad idea, right? I mean, I didn't think the price hike was as big a deal as people were making it out to be (it's still cheaper than cable, with a better catalog than anywhere else), and I kind of wonder if the anonymous nature of the internet and its tendency to be overheated affected Netflix as an internet company more than it would had it been, say, Wal-Mart's streaming video plan.

A positive note: Video games are going to be in Qwikster (Qwickster?) 's mix. That's great for a casual gamer like me, who doesn't want to try out enough to make the $22/mo cost of Game Fly pencil out.

So, okay, splintering the two complementary parts of the company into two companies is kind of like following through on Solomon's edict to split the baby in half (which, if you are not familiar with the Old Testament, was strictly a ploy, not serious). It's just not a good idea at all.

In spite of this apparent blunder, I have to have great sympathy for Netflix and the way it has to deal with being the scapegoat while being bullied by content providers (who, because they cannot get their acts together and create the distribution model that will allow us to seamlessly get what we want when we want it, are squashing the one company that has a shot at doing just that). A few articles with some context are here, here, here, here, here, and there's one article out there I can't find with a real takedown in 11 points ... but my Google skills are weak tonight.