If I may just focus on one of your critiques, I'd like to say that the thing about the cult-like structure... I'm not sure whether that actually results in the cult effect on LW or not, but the general idea both intrigues and terrifies me.

Especially the "contempt for less-rational Normals" thing- I haven't noticed that in myself* but the possibility of that happening by itself is... interesting, with what I know of LW. I have almost never seen anyone on LW really condemning anyone specific as "irrational", except maybe a couple celebrities, or doing anything that could relate to actively urging others to several ties, but I have this image that individuals in LW could potentially often sever ties with people they see as less rational as a result, without anybody actually intending it or even realizing it.

*or at least, my views of people who I perceive of as being less rational is pretty much unchanged from before LW, which is the important part. Especially in the case of social interaction, rather than discussing serious issues. It's possible I might be unusual compared to some nerds on this; I tend to not care too much whether or not the people I interact with are especially smart or even that our interactions are anything but vapid nonsense, as long as I enjoy interacting with them.