Can MySpace make better writers?

I'm inclined to agree with the author that tools such as MySpace, Blogs etc. can foster better writing skills, especially if the student knows that peers will be viewing, or that it will be graded. Next time I see one of our English faculty, I will have to ask for an opinion. I do grade grammar in the courses I teach to some extent. These are are college success courses where a journal is kept by each student. This could fit very well in an online journal or personal blog too.
One thing I do disagree with the author about is the significance of creative abbreviation. it's not bad thing. But I believe there is time and place for it - that is when one is sending a text message. I feel it is important to distinguish for students, that this is not something to be randomly used, and especially not to be used in professional communication. Case in point; the text below is from a sale representative who contacted me as part of my job. This was the first communication I ever received from him:

Dear Brian,

(company) provides subtitling services for live streams and on-demand video content.
We would like to discuss partnering with Central New Mexico Community College in order to bring these capabilities to your target audience.

Please LMK who would be the best person to contact.

Am I just being nit-picky, or does he really "kill" his introduction with that "LMK"?

His company does provide a valuable and needed service for online learning. But I feel someone from his organization should talk to him about professional correspondence.