Just a side note on the contest area, I never saw that area as somewhere a member could initiate a contest. It seemed more formal and 'osity approved types. So I am looking to see better information available about how contests can be initiated and included in the contest area.
(Although the lack of commenting does affect one of the bonuses of these gallery contests - that is the image feedback. In some cases, the best and most feedback came from gallery contest entries. In some cases, that was my motivation for entering, given I had not hope of winning anyway:-)