the worst I can do to them is publicly call them out... The real way that witnesses get hurt ... is by not getting votes

I think it is very important for everyone to know, who hates whom among the witnesses, because it is you who have a (semi)professional look at each other. 99% of all users have no contact to the engine room or the bridge at all. That can be bridged by expressing personal opinions.

My question here is: How should normal users otherwise find out? A "press" could help. Interested users following the debates and then writing articles about it. But that would end as usual: Debates behind closed doors. So, the answer is that it becomes part of the job of a witness to be openly critical about his fellow witnesses.

Yes it is tax deductible. No, I don't publish the bill.

I brought this up because it can help creating transparency. I would also advocate that witnesses start an official business when they get into running a node. Because if I was the government and try to get someone, I look at his tax records. That's why publishing the numbers and creating an own entity (without the adress of course..) would mean to reduce a potential weak spot.

My opinion is that I don't see what value it adds [guaranteed 4 weeks witness], and it would make the system more complicated.

That's how an American thinks;-)

A possible advantage could be a better development for the system. In 4 weeks you can pull off projects and with having the necessary funds through the mining money, this might induce a more rapid development.

But, you're right. It could complicate things too much.

Another thing: I haven't found the specific voting modalities yet. Am I assuming correctly that your vote counts as much as you have MVESTS?