Why not consider making it easy for the confused to ask for help? And treat them with respect when they do. If you don't create a little confusion, it's unlikely you've built something remarkable.
I think it's an interesting way to look at things, but ultimately flawed. When confusion exists, there are many ways to alleviate it. Facebook takes the "blank slate" as an opportunity to actively educate the user. So does 37Signals (http://gettingreal.37signals.com/ch09_The_Blank_Slate.php).
These things may not turn "n00bs" into power users, but they'll at least reach a level of proficiency where they feel comfortable. That's the crucial first step. It only takes a few of them to advance to the next level (harnessing their understanding of your design to think of new ways of applying it) to make things really interesting.
Why not consider making it easy for the confused to ask for help? And treat them with respect when they do. If you don't create a little confusion, it's unlikely you've built something remarkable.
I think it's an interesting way to look at things, but ultimately flawed. When confusion exists, there are many ways to alleviate it. Facebook takes the "blank slate" as an opportunity to actively educate the user. So does 37Signals (http://gettingreal.37signals.com/ch09_The_Blank_Slate.php).
These things may not turn "n00bs" into power users, but they'll at least reach a level of proficiency where they feel comfortable. That's the crucial first step. It only takes a few of them to advance to the next level (harnessing their understanding of your design to think of new ways of applying it) to make things really interesting.