You should always have n+(n/2)+2 choices in a poll to serve for optimum information return.

Okay, sorry. I honestly don't like the jabber on the channel, mostly because I log it just-in-case something later useful comes along. Also, probably because I'm out of the loop on most of it, so it's just noise to me.
I do think there should be a universal chat channel for simple OOC messages in-game, but not for idle OT remarks. It might also serve as a technical hotline, or that might be its own channel also. At that, they should keep the jabber channel because it will happen anyway: for anyone else with machinery backgrounds, you always want at least an overflow line, but better yet with redundancies, pressure relief, and recirc too.
As to the concern that players will use the OOC channels to benefit their IC behavior, well, I thought the intent was along trying to design PS to accommodate that possibility?
More on that in another Topic.