Very serious and very valid points made.

Foresight is forewarned...
whatever we implement ..if we implement ...
we must strictly utilize it so it does not fracture our community ...

Although my only counter arguments are...
has IRC liberated communications for Maemo Talk or has it split and made others leave one for the other...?

If it has or if it hasn't I do not see as relevant, IF a new and innovative service allows bridging between multiple services, then it binds everyone together just as close as now, if not closer., if not better.

And so back to to the noted foresight.
Whatever service is to be chosen should be done on those principals, to bind together better what already we have, so there is no dissemination, only greater harmony.