Membership or Open Doors to Access Full Site?

As a social media consultant and developer, I had the 'duh' idea a couple months ago of using my business site as an example of how to create an online community that supports your business, and as a way of showcasing various social media tools. (We'll talk more about this at Bizjam.)

Until today, I've only allowed folks to see the welcome page and first page, after that --to see videos, enter discussions, and access other resources, you had to become a member. (Part of the reason is that I wanted to get some activity going there first). Well, today I've decided to experiment by opening access to the whole site.

Questions:

• I've gotten over 60 members who trusted me with their contact info, etc. I wonder, would I have more or less if I'd been fully open with the site?
• Why haven't more people started discussions? Too cluttered? (I just made them more organized today, hope that helps) Too busy? what?
• Would you become a member here? Why, or why not? What would you like to have there?
• Was it a good idea to switch it open, or not?
• If you check a member page (or become one), you'll see that I leave a personalized video on each page. While a few folks have really liked this greeting and been 'wowed' by it, most haven't even commented. What do you think of this approach?

Anyway, I'd LOVE to have some more bizniks there, and especially if you could join in a start or reply to a discussion thread to warm the nest there.

Check it out at www.SparkSocialMedia.com

Thanks!