"I'm not complaining. I'm discussing. I have no need for this service, but I do need to make a decision on whether or not I can advocate it."
As part of your search for information as to whether or not you can advocate it, have you taken the time to read the mailing list archives, where the entire project was discussed out in the open?
Have you seen, that there are 75 subscribers to that list, and only a dozen or so have given ANY input at all during the development of this idea?
Have you noticed, at all, that this is completely supported by Matt Mullenweg, the developer of WordPress?
All these things have been addressed, as have the concerns over what happens when someone tries to place blame on the install team for doing anything other than installing.
There are many rules that have been laid out for this, and they're all either in the maillist archives, or on the install4free website.
I'm sorry if you don't want to take the time to do some research on your own. But all of these things you've brought up have already been addressed in the other places mentioned. This thread was not written (at least to my knowledge) so as to discuss whether or not people think it's a good idea, but rather to announce the service.
Whether you, or anyone else chooses to do their own research and come to their own conclusions, is completely and totally your call - no one's saying you don't have a right to decline the offer for installation being done for you, should you have any fears. There's no arm-twisting going on, it's just something that a bunch of people thought would be a nice thing to do for people... It just so happens, that the people involved ARE well respected members of this community, whether or not you choose to take the time to discover that for yourself or not. Again, no one's saying that you have to believe us when we tell you that - it's all laid right out there for you, and you were even given links.
I think the problem here is that the nay-sayers have yet to do this research themselves. And that if something doesn't agree with them, they feel the need to get nasty about it. (This is a general statement, not at any one person in particular... )
The absolute best thing anyone can do when they want to find out more about something, is to stop asking questions for a moment, and ensure they've done as much research as they can... THEN, if you have questions about something, by all means ask. But by making assumptions toward the negative, yeah, of course you're gonna wind up upsetting people.
What would've happened if the US told France that they didn't think their gift of the Statue of Liberty was a good idea, AFTER it was built? People have already put a lot of time, effort, thought, and discussion into this project. It's all set up, is supported by Matt, is supported by Podz, and is supported by again, well-respected members of this forum.
I still can't see where all the negativity is needed here. Like it or don't - use it or don't - but for god's sake, don't assume the worst of these people without taking the time to do your research. (And if you have, and still choose to conclude that these people are untrustworthy, either walk away from it or you need to expect that those of us who know them better than you do, will disagree with you.)