Doc Searls et al,
I'm not qualified to address the ins and outs of VRM.
However I am convinced that the requirements for making a micropayment possible lead to a natural monopoly for its core. And that core may easily be just as important as the micropayment itself.
And were this core to be constructed as a for profit enterprise... owned by its members...(one human, one share, non-transferable and expires with death)...
It seems to me this gives that inevitably ubiquitous user base tremendous power regarding the use of its data... as well as a means to acquire compensation from those who wish to use it... whether the user ever makes a micropayment or not.
While the system for the micropayment itself is very straighforward and not a 'programming issue... I'm not a programmer and can't say I can fully see how the VRM aspect might operate... it seems to me there's something to be thought about there.
If not... so be it. I wanted to throw it out. David Brin and I are putting together an article on the general capability... and I was curious to see if there might be something to be added from this end.
Characteristics of the Monied "Like" Button
One-Click Micropayment Capability for Volume Solicitations and Multiple Providers
P.S. The "for profit, one user,one share...etc." idea for ownership is my own and separate from the basic mechanisms themselves... and I can't say whether Dr. Brin necessarily agrees or not... so if its terminally stupid... put it on my head.
P.P.S. And if this has no relationship with your ideas I understand and won't push it. But I think its worth a moment or two for consideration.