Stack Overflow is probably the way it is by design. Harsh gatekeeping.
They figure that there will be someone out there willing to jump through all the hoops, so that everyone else who comes along will just see the final answer.
Stack Overflow shares a lot in common with the jerks who moderate Wikipedia where someone can be brought up on all kinds of silly technicalities and arcane insider rules.
They rely on there being a free labor force who is willing to put up with all these jerks.
The difference between Stack Overflow and Wikipedia is that Wikipedia is an actual non-profit, therefore you can give them a bit of a pass for not having the best decorum.
They not only have a vast quantity of content, they also provide a very important service without having to resort to a for-profit model.
