I think its kind of crappy that the author was doing us a favor by setting up a pool first only to get undercut by someone else. Especially when the author isn't pre-mining. Then again I'm guessing his pool will start first so we will see.
Well, 4% is not a favor. It's gouging. Had he gone with 1-2% I would support his pool in principle. But 4% is almost unheard of. Also, a diversity of pools is useful when some will inevitably go down.
I agree with this if it was at 2% I would donate 1% just to help out...but forcing 4% is out of my comfort zone. I would rather donate to the op via address than mine on that pool.
Then if that is what you want to do, then do it. Just naggin about the pool fee is crazy, don't want a fee, then solo mine. It just blows me away how some act when talking about the pools. Those people are doing you a service, and a small fee is nothing compared to compiling, running, maintaining, and paying the bills for those servers. I have no problem with 4% to 5% at all.
I am fine with 2-3% thanks.