It doesn't matter who does the investigation, so long as the evidence they find is reasonably easy to validate.

Agreed. It will however take original research, which costs time and money. I reckon that's a bit of an issue for most blog writers (and of course that applies for lots of people that write for traditional publications as well).

This would be a good time for an experienced enough investigating journalist to set up a Kickstarter project on it. I'd chip in at least..

Now that Peer has refuted the gossip[1], perhaps this topic can be considered settled.

It's an interesting idea though. Some subjects are interesting enough that it actually might work.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4480830

I'm on no side, but what did he refute? That no strings were attached? That noone threatened to hold payments back?

I wouldn't be surprised one single bit if it's true.

But my question is: So what?