I'm a fan of this old post (probably linked from Hacker News, actually, but I can't really remember)... http://whimsley.typepad.com/whimsley/2007/07/the-limita

I'm a fan of this old post (probably linked from Hacker News, actually, but I can't really remember)... http://whimsley.typepad.com/whimsley/2007/07/the-limitations.html http://whimsley.typepad.com/whimsley/2007/07/the-limitations... ...that asks exactly how much better the experience will be for a particular customer if all this research results in a recommendation engine that's really 10% better than Cinematch. Undoubtedly the marketing value (to Netflix) of the challenge is incredible, and I don't question the reasonableness of their desire to eke satisfaction out of every potentially satisfied customer; but surely there's somewhere else in their business they could more easily improve their margin and their customers' experience. I, personally, use Netflix a bunch, and love the service. Furthermore, I love the fact that they sponsored this contest and provided a large research database to support it. I guess I'm just always a bit disappointed by breathless mainstream press coverage that doesn't discuss these other meta-contest questions. That and I wish I could somehow get Netflix to send me season 4 of Lost before season 5 starts.