Hmm.

The examples mentioned are social products so of course you need to make them sociable.

It's not wrong but it's kind of given in the kind of products that are mentioned and they are not IMHO key principles as such.

I think I basically agree with the 3 premises here, but of course the trick to produce 'novel self-expression' is a struggle unto itself.

"Humans have a deep-seated psychological need to feel like they belong or that people appreciate them." What does this have to do with the rest of the article? First it started with what makes a great product, and now it's a psychology essay. Know when to stop writing!

(OT) I can't take someone seriously who sends himself kudos for hovering over a widget.

It's the svbtle network. The whole kudos concept was discussed previously on HN when Dustin Curtis announced it:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3742314

Talk to Dustin Curtis about that one :)