> yes it's hard to articulate to your non-tech friends why they should spend $36/year on this.

Actually, I am a tech person, and I like to support App.net. I have not yet seen a reason to use the service.

> ...it's becoming a pretty positive place to hang out, and most of the people I care about listening to are there.

Ok. This is genuinely the first benefit I have heard about using it. Great. Please elaborate more. (I say this as someone looking for reasons to support App.net.)