The staff, a couple of years ago, began encouraging participation from writers outside their normal circle. For example at the 2007 SHOT SIGCIS conference I gave a lecture about the importance of involving actual end users when writing history, and almost everyone welcomed me into the fold. So, while you're correct about the journal style -- the papers aften ARE chapters of dissertations* -- consider the old mantra of "be the change you wish to see." * PS: That kind of vintage computing is just as important as what happens in cctalk, at VCF, etc. Plenty of room for both. Personally I feel these worlds need to trust each other and work together to advance the topic.