Would you pay $5/yr for HN?
CalmQuiet: If the charge served to reduce the chaff from unvetted commentators, then  I'd have no problem with it. Depending on...How smoothe (and trust-worthy) is the credit card payment process. If it makes registration/payment more of a hassle then the time/trouble cost would personally be a barrier when the $5.00 would not. But that's just me.