Adding that much friction is also going to loose you many genuine users. Might be worth it depending on the community but if it makes newcomers fewer than your usual churn rate its a death sentence.

This is fucked and I hate it. Internet is (was?) about convenience and direct access. I understand there are challenges that need solutions, but this ain’t it

Right, because I cannot possibly purchase a thousand such letters for less than the cost of minimum wage for an hour or two.

Slop as a letter is a thing already https://www.axidraw.com/