user2146: As of now (February 2014), how easy is it to have a transaction which makes use of OP_RETURN data confirmed into a block? 
Do standard nodes forward such transactions yet? Have major mining pools committed to support? 
Are there specific steps that can improve the chances of such a transaction being mined, like connecting to certain nodes with advertised support, or adding extra transaction fees?

user6527: It will take until bitcoind version 0.9 for wide spread support for relaying OP_RETURN.
Adding fees will not help. Currently, transactions with OP_RETURN are by default not relayed by the main net (last sentence):
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Script#Provably_Unspendable.2FPrunable_Outputs
P2Pool seems to accept them, so that could be a solution for you: submit them to a P2Pool node.

2146: <p>As of now (February 2014), how easy is it to have a transaction which makes use of OP_RETURN data confirmed into a block? </p>

<p>Do standard nodes forward such transactions yet? Have major mining pools committed to support? </p>

<p>Are there specific steps that can improve the chances of such a transaction being mined, like connecting to certain nodes with advertised support, or adding extra transaction fees?</p>
 6527: <p>It will take until bitcoind version 0.9 for wide spread support for relaying OP_RETURN.</p>

<p>Adding fees will not help. Currently, transactions with OP_RETURN are by default not relayed by the main net (last sentence):
<a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Script#Provably_Unspendable.2FPrunable_Outputs" rel="nofollow">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Script#Provably_Unspendable.2FPrunable_Outputs</a></p>

<p>P2Pool seems to accept them, so that could be a solution for you: submit them to a P2Pool node.</p>
