I remember the first time (about 6 months ago) I took a look at their about page there was a big emphasis on them not tracking your searches, so I think the sentiment has always been there.
To be honest, I was skeptical App.net would meet its $500,000 goal on time. Not because I thought it was a bad idea, but because raising that much money from customers just seemed an almost impossible feat.
So congrats, Dalton, can't wait to see what happens next!
All this talk of Apple Pre and Post Steve brings up another interesting point - how much of Steve's passing is just coincidence? As most counterpoints in this thread state, Steve did have a hand in everything Apple has released (and will release for sometime) following his death. So to flip the question around, how much of this is just bias/being more critical of Apple now that he is gone, and how much of it is just the natural progression of Apple, which would have followed the same course regardless of if Steve was still alive?