Actually, I think you're missing the key point here...

You've joined a community. Every community has not only rules, but taboos and mores. While the top posting thing is not a rule, it does seem to be a bit of a taboo around here.

Within any community, there is the expectation that members will, in general, be allowed (even encouraged) to feel free to express themselves in whatever way they see fit. There is also the responsibility to take into account the beliefs and taboos of that community.

Top posting isn't appreciated by most people around here. It isn't the end of the world though. The problem I see is that people who are just starting out in the community are making it clear that they have no interest in respecting the way the community works.

We seem to make things work fairly smoothly here by doing our best to respect the group as a whole. Even in the midst of some pretty heated political / religious debates, we all try to be civil.

Sorry to be long winded, but I feel it's important that you know that when Durden told Bitt he would "refuse to change", and when you express your belief that we are "anal" in regards to this topic, you are, at least in my eyes, making a fairly poor introduction for yourselves.

I'm not saying you have to, or should, conform. I'm saying you should be respectful of the community you've recently become a part of. It's a great group of people, and I, at least, am honored to be welcome here, even though I sometimes get a bit snippy myself.