Separate. Endorsing just means you think a comment is substantial, not that you agree with it.

Can you find a different term for it? To 'endorse' something means that you support it, and that you put your name behind that support. The action you're describing is more like 'publish' or 'pass' or 'authorise'. Probably 'release' is a good term, given the concept of 'pending'.

And that is where this solution falls down. You are relying on a subset of people to ignore their human nature and endorse things they do not agree with.

Whilst I'll admit they maybe some who will do this, I believe the majority will just follow their instincts. This sort of behaviour can be seen in any internet forum.

Inevitably new posters are required to write posts they think will be endorsed in order to achieve the karma threshold needed to use the site properly

So one might endorse a substantial comment which is incorrect just so one can downvote it for being wrong.

I can't wait for the first "I endorsed this just so I can tell you how stupid you are" comment.

You can tell someone they're wrong about something without 1) thinking that person is generally stupid 2) being mean, of course.

(e.g. if someone says "I think bitcoin is the first digital currency system which has attracted VC interest", I'd love it if someone from Flooz/Beanz (late-90s), or DigiCash (1980s-1990s) or various stored value systems would comment and say "Actually, ...")

Oh I know, but inevitably someone is going to use this endorse thing as a way to be incredibly condescending. Hopefully this system will then prevent that post to show, but I doubt it.