OK well you said you want an opinion well here is mine.
I think this is the most stupidest idea that i have ever seen. Plus a lot of people use general to chat, to get help on certain things on the game for example on how to put in items, mass markings, downloaded maps and objects, to warn people that there is a troll going around in the map, looking for an role play or even advertising. Now we have to find a random group randomly to see if the role play is for us, what are we challenging, the plot and type it is plus now we won't know if they still have high ranks available ether. a lot of us don't like using movie clips for advertising ether and if you have a really long advisement half it won't come up .
Your worried about spam? yes there could be spam or someone being rude on there sometimes. But in my opinion the movie clips is way worst i have actually seen a couple of times someone making a porno (yes i have seen someone mating on movie spam before.), I've seen some people being racist through the movies as well, someone going on about rape there on top of it, some pointless ones like saying for example "i'm drowning" and sometimes it doesn't even have a script ether it just has like a canine or feline in the scene sometimes doing nothing but locked on that character.
I have to agree with the people that are against the whole situation create a poll see what the results are then worry about the results, Besides i also agree on having some extra maps for advertising or an advertising button. You can't get through to Kovu then go look for him check if he has a any smartphone apps, his got Facebook, deviantart and i have heard his got Skype and msn just keep on searching till you find him. You will eventually find him soon or later then ask him if he is still interested in the game still if he isn't get him to tell you the codes or at least let someone to take over. i find this a bit unfair to other people.
Sorry if this offends most of you. But i am also speaking the truth and also my own opinion.