Regarding Domain name shakeup may bring new net goldrush.

The only people it will help are the registrars and the domain squatters*. The Web isn't suffering from a lack of names; the Web needs good content. I have never heard of a good site or Web application which had to be abandoned due to not being able to find a suitable domain name. Just allowing for millions more domains to be registered isn't going to magically make good Web sites appear; if anything we're likely to see more annoying link farms. This isn't going to better for the public, just more confusing.

*I forgot the legal community. There is going to be lots more work for them as people squabble over these millions of new domains. People in the legal profession always need more money.

Update: There is a well expressed opinion of the situation in "Charles Arthur has a .bridge he'd like to sell you"