Isn't most freelance work a race to the bottom? This would be great, but most online job boards seem to go to the lowest bidder (who normally works for $10-12 an hour)
A feedback system for my dad's restaurant that allows customers to provide feedback through text messages. It's a fun little side project with a few challenges, and I've enjoyed it so far.
I would put a link in the bottom of the page that gives a short explanation about what the site is all about. That way, people can easily find that information.
Does anyone know where the liability falls for Airbnb rentals? Is it on the owner or the rental agency (Airbnb)? If it falls on the owner, Airbnb should make this clear, and owners should be sure to have insurance in order to protect themselves.
What are you using the confirmed email for? Do you need the user's email for a core function of the site? Or is it an antispam tool?
Look at Hacker News. Its signup process is dead simple - you enter a username and password, and you're automatically logged in. I'd hazard a guess that doing that is the simplest process possible, but there is a tradeoff - it's impossible to recover your password if you forget it. It all depends on what is required for your site to function, so I don't think there is a simple solution to your question.
Kickstarter shouldn't be considered anything more than a donation, with the possibility of getting something at the end. The model has flourished because of the simplicity of it, and involving contractual agreements in the sponsoring process would simply complicate it and scare away potential donors. One should support Kickstarter projects because they want to see a project flourish, and the rewards should be an afterthought.