This is a great feature, but maybe this isn't the right product for it.

I think speaking text messages could be cool.

I would love it if I could hear the news on The Inq and listen to the comments too.

The Inquirer, come on, give us a voice comments system!

I like to think(no proof to this thought, it's just a musing) that if people's voices can be heard, it will reduce the amount of flamewars that are started because of misunderstandings. Text can't express irony very well, but the spoken word does it very well indeed.

Of course in my case, I'd write it out, record it separately, and then upload it. (I'm very anal, though I can suppress it when I'm actually aware that I'm annoying people. So, I'm still very dorkish, it's just not as bad in person)

The basis of the idea is obvious, only 1% of you tube comments contain spelling that one can decipher somewhat, and by having them yap instead they don't have to go through the terrible ordeal of actually trying to construct readable text.
Of course what youtube's staff doesn't realise is that with all the southern and backwater accents those same people speak it won't make it any easier to understand.