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What’s wrong with editing the core file? As long as you’re confident in what you’re changing, and the WP installation isn’t being distributed (with expectations of it working in its original form), then you should be fine.

As always in these situations, you risk losing your hacks when you upgrade WordPress. How about trying to implement the functionality in a new plugin that you install? The plugin could maybe even check and replace the particular function you’re needing to edit. So, when you upgrade WP, the plugin stays along for the ride, and patches the function as necessary.

-WCC

I’m not terribly familiar with most of the popular WP plugins out there, but I have the general sense that what you want is out there somewhere. For example, will WP even let someone post an empty comment? Maybe there’s an option in the settings to prohibit such a thing.

Also, are you using the anti-spam plugin that comes built-in to WP, called Akismet? I would imagine it’s likely to flag/block empty comments.

While you are searching for such a plugin in the WP Plugin Directory, you may need to think creatively. For example, to require “substantial” comments, maybe you’d need to enable comment moderation and then find a plugin that adds features/criteria to accepting or auto-accepting blog comments for publishing.

Launching a separate page – you could probably do that with a mere tweak to WP, if you don’t find a plugin.

Writing a plugin: Where are you starting from? Do you have any experience with PHP? Have a look at the “Hello Dolly” plugin that comes with WP. It’s a good first step to learning the ropes in plugin development (hey, it got me started!).

-WCC

The general outline is pretty simple. You have some Javascript code which is triggered by the click and which changes the CSS for that entire section (probably a <div>) from display: block; to display: none;.

-WCC

I’m not sure what kind of “automator installation program” you are using, but can’t you just click Cancel or the Close/X-box ?

-WCC

I don’t have a specific idea here, but I’d say go looking for a Javascript-based viewer. You may find more options than limiting yourself to the pool of WP plugins (although the latter ain’t such a bad place to go looking as well.)

-WCC

Just to throw one out there, Bluehost is a popular webhost for WordPress bloggers, but I’ve never used it myself, so can’t offer any solid advice.

What services do you want? Are you speaking about services related directly to your use of WordPress on your own domain, or other more peripheral services?

I would imagine things you might be interested in when evaluating a host are:

1) “1-click” WordPress install
2) DB backup option
3) general file system backup
4) some level of technical support, based on your skill level
5) you mention disaster planning – such as data center redundancy, etc.

I’d say just stick with a large, well-known webhost, then review their pricing/plans and choose accordingly.

-WCC

Would you be OK with the search terms being more than just tags?

I went to Google and looked for any popular WordPress blog to do a quick test. The following blog came up, and I entered some search terms in their search box; some post results were displayed.

http://lorelle.wordpress.com/?s=blog+plugin

Notice the syntax of ?s= and the terms. I’m not sure what versions that syntax works for (such as your v2.6.5).

-WCC