Escaping the Gilded Cage

I was given a copy of "Escaping the Gilded Cage: User Created Content and Building the Metaverse"( Cory Ondrejka) at work as a reference for some of the work that we're doing in virtual worlds, and its worth a read. As a programmer involved in developing systems for teaching through simulations, and an SF geek I've always looked forward to seeing the day when the idea of the MetaVerse actually makes it in to really life. This paper gives a background to the state of play and what we should be looking out for, in terms of pitfalls and developments.

I'd still like to see an extension to SecondLife or similar MMPORGs that would allow me to have my own area on my own laptop, that when I want it to be, could be connected to the rest of the world, and have online users wander in.