I'd love to see your variation tested too but the data-driven "above average" feels much less accusatory and supportive than subjective labeling of "poor student" and "valued contributor". Makes me wonder if poor students are less valued?

Also the fine-grained payment distribution scrollbar controls make me feel empowered and better about my participation in this cause. Getting rid of them would disappoint me.

This reminds me of someone's donation button on some open source project, it was something like:

    Donate [$5 — buy me a beer] [$20 — buy me dinner] [$100 — buy me a gadget]

Personally, "Tired of overpriced games from soul-crushing megacorps laden with spyware and DRM?" really puts me off.

Are you tired of underpriced games from small indie dev shops without spyware or DRM?

It's a somewhat antagonistic statement, and those can rankle.

ooh nice one!

Hope you don't mind me using that mockup for one of my own experiments :)

Go for it. I'd love to know if it works out for you.

If you don't mind me asking, what did you use to make that mockup image?

I Believe it's Balsamic Mockups http://balsamiq.com/products/mockups