On Wed, Sep 18, 2013 at 09:07:14PM +0300, J.C. wrote:
Another amateur relay operator here, i run the node "namelesshero" and I sure hope however this cost reimbursing plan eventually pans out, it won't discourage small folk like us from running relays. I, too, believe the exact opposite is desirable instead. I'll admit i'm not quite sure if i understand the concept here but mixing monetary compensation with voluntary activity doesn't sound good to me at a first look.
I'm the operator of the noisetor exits (tor.noisebridge.net).
We're currently fairly comfortable on the money side, just based on individual supporters' donations (and a few large donations as well). I don't have a problem with the Reimbursement program, although Noisetor is not currently planning to participate due to a lack of need on our end. I certainly hear your concern, JC, about the potential for $$ to drive out volunteer operators.
While it's not entirely clear, it seems from experience that large/fast exits are more beneficial to the network than small/slow exits. However, centralization is bad for the network, too.
I think that the best thing we could do as a community is increase the number of fast-but-not-too-big exits, I'd like to see a lot more 100 Mbps Fast/Stable/Exit nodes run by individual operators. (I'd also like to see a few more 300 - 500 Mbps exits to compete at the top of the list with Torservers, Noisetor, DFRI, torland, et al.)
These servers cost enough to run that it's probably good, overall, to provide a way for the costs to be borne by the larger organization. Hopefully the Reimbursement program will help, there.
I'm pretty skeptical of the conspiracy theories around Tor. The Project is extremely open with their financial, organizational, and technical aspects. The most principled, anti-authoritarian, paranoid, willing-to-go-public-in-a-minute-if-necessary hackers I know work at Tor, and if there were even the slightest hint of collusion with the surveillance state I'm extremely confident that it would be exposed in moments.
-andy