I think you need a wiki to discuss design issues. The white paper discusses several independent ideas.
It would be better to make designs more modular. This allows for modular contributions from people with specific expertise.
Make a wiki containing a wish list of features and linking to independent articles describing the design of each feature.
In my opinion, altcoins only have competitive potential to the extent that they can absorb new ideas from outsiders. Bitcoin is too far advanced to allow this. Many altcoins don't facilitate this either, out of both (a) get-rich quick greed and (b) egoism.
Let me quote from Meni on mining pool reward schemes to illustrate what I mean:
Eligius originally used the proportional method. I explained that it's broken and suggested that they use a hopping-proof method instead.
Then they switched to MPPS. I explained that it's broken and suggested that they use a hopping-proof method instead.
Then they switched to SMPPS. I explained that it's broken and suggested that they use a hopping-proof method instead.
Then they switched to CPPSRB, and I gave up. It's not as broken as the other methods, but there's no reason to use it over the hopping-proof methods PPS, PPLNS and DGM.
Meni's background is in math and he is an expert on the above topic and wanted to make a contribution. Organize development so experts like Meni find it as easy as possible to contribute.
I see Colbee posted below. Litecoin's success has a lot to do with his leadership style.