Out of all of these issues, it's really 1 and 7 that are the worst. The other ones are definitely an issue, but the real problem is that waiting a week for an account just so you can post your blog that nobody will read is not attractive to most people.
Anyway, the real issue is the fact that it's not worth it to users to go through the trouble of waiting for an account or parting with their own money just so they can write posts. Most people don't create any content at all, let alone write. Most people are content consumers.
I agree those are two very vital points you made.