This is the most ignorant logic I’ve ever seen from someone in web development. You said yourself that a good content writer does not depend on their method of posting. Secondly, all blog platforms are so similar, if you’re able to use one. you should pick up the others (WordPress) very quickly.

It’s not about what you want or think, it’s what your visitors want and what that person can add to your product/service/site.

But I also recognize that this is close to being geek snobbery. Wouldn’t you agree? You can probably only be casual about rejecting writers based on their domain when the ratio of applicants to openings is high. You don’t want to get “stuck in your ways” if the ratio tilts the other way.

Also, there is just so much spam on Blogspot that I don’t understand why people still use it as their publishing platform.

How do you feel about folks who use Blogger and FTP to their own domain? Is it just the “blogspot.” string that turns you off?

I also think that bloggers that want to be paid for their work have to have a certain understanding of the industry that they want to enter. I doubt that I ever would have become a full time blogger had I started out on Blogger as the platform is as much of a limitation as it is easy.

I will definitely work harder on not lumping them all together.

In general, I don’t think I’d exclude someone from a content-producing job based on the tools they use.

Would you not hire a writer because they have used Olivetti typewriter because the office has IMB Selectrics? Of course not. Granted, the difference between typewriters and blogging tools is substantial.

If someone makes the effort to learn WordPress and, very likely, installs it on their own domain, they are probably too busy running their own blog or just not interested in blogging professionally.

You’re best bet for finding new talent, committed to your project is probably to not eliminate those that took the free route–and overlooked WordPress.com, of course.