I can't say that I am much of a deep-thinker when it comes to micro-payments.
But the fact that Scott McCloud, whose giddy embrace of all things Internet
normally gives me a headache, was a big part of the self-publishing movement in comix during the 70's, 80's and 90's (?)
makes me think that he probably has a richer appreciation of the subtleties and the economics of publishing
for love -- and hopefully some money -- than Clay Shirky does.