Because I have more HN karma than I need anyhow... First, no. I'm not suggesting that he do that. I'm suggesting that it's an option on the table. Different s

Because I have more HN karma than I need anyhow... First, no. I'm not suggesting that he do that. I'm suggesting that it's an option on the table. Different strokes for different folks. My primary income requires that I be able to secure large amounts of non-recourse debt, for example. A guy might have a wife who expects to be able to buy a house in the near future. Some may not care that the lawyer they hired worked 10-12 hours without getting paid. Others will. For some people $17k may take two years to pay back. Others, not so much. Some people just want to make good on their commitments if at all possible. Not everyone takes the by-the-numbers view of debt (legitimate though it may be). Those who don't will consider you a deadbeat for walking. What's the cost of that? The answer is different for everyone, and counseling someone to consider the aftermath is just plain sensible. And a serious question: Where can you get a merchant account for a new business that does not require a personal guarantee? I'd love to know.