+1, to both the idea of a list and the difference between academics and
researchers
Just want to point out that we have the IRTF, and
irtf-discuss(_at_)irtf(_dot_)org is a list...
I think that the thoughts were, at least for the geographic remote hubs, is
that there would be face to face (f2f) meetings in between IETF meetings and /
or people would participate remotely as a group.
The feeling was that there is value created by f2f over and beyond that of a
list. People, of course, will likely wish to participate in both IRTF and the
academics or researchers hub.
Nalini