Rejecting code and docs is a fine strategy for the short term. In the long term, people and enthusiasm are the scarce resources. Taking the time to cultivate

Rejecting code and docs is a fine strategy for the short term. In the long term, people and enthusiasm are the scarce resources. Taking the time to cultivate them as members of the community pays off down the road. I don't agree with your assumption that "the time span it takes to go from clueless to good is probably longer than the period in which the person is involved in [the] project." If I can spend some time shepherding the new person, who is probably more naive than unqualified, it will pay off in spades later.