I completely understand the issue of not wanting spam of various sorts broadly defined, but I do think restricting it to academic addresses is a huge mistake. As an established researcher on the verge of leaving an academic institution, but who is still very much interested in research, I'm becoming acutely aware of how cliquey academics is, and how problematic it is for the field and society as a whole.
The assumption that anyone who might have anything important to say would be at an academic institution is extremely dangerous (just as is the problem of access to journals outside of academic institutions, etc.).
The assumption that anyone who might have anything important to say would be at an academic institution is extremely dangerous (just as is the problem of access to journals outside of academic institutions, etc.).