I think that we should keep the general chit chat area but it shouldnt be a major section. I dont like the idea of AO deterring from its original purpose but at the same time I AO to retain its interactivity. General chit chat allows user to just talk about anything and that creates a good environment for everyone. For me, it was a great way to start and get accustomed to posting. For newbies, it is somewhere that they can post their ideas and opinions before they are able to learn enough to tackle security issues. Many of us want to focus our attention on the security and programming issues but we also have to remember all the other people that may not understand everything yet.
