I can actually see a good argument for the API remaining read-only so that Google+ emphasises original content and doesn't just end up as a ghost-town full of content syndicated in from elsewhere and sending people off to another site to join in the real conversation.

Yeah good point.

Surely this will be unavoidable for Google - they'll need to open up write access for third party apps, and they'll be wanting those for sure.

It'd be fine by me if Google didn't open up API write access, or if they did such messages were banished to another tab, like the Games section.

You can already do this with the Buzz tab.

Then the majority will not use it, because they will not want to abandon the old site entirely.

Your hug will have to wait because this API is read only.

More info here: https://plus.google.com/117377434815709898403/posts/53bL7RAh...

It's just the opposite but you may find it interesting:

http://plusfeed.frosas.net/

If you use Chrome, you can try this out: http://sgplus.me/

Easily done with a Chrome extension, I think...