If you wish to get rid of the Post Counts all together, then do so. Perhaps, if you wish, just change the format so that this information is not posted on every post we do. Yet you should not use post counts as a means to judge forum members for their usefulness. We have all found this forum because of a love of reading. Obviously, we all have basic things in common.
However, suddenly deciding that all general chat is "inane drivel" is entirely snobbish. The only use I can see for excluding these posts would be to segregate certain users and to form a class distinction of sorts on this board. Inevitably, there would be those who would feel superior to junior members who wish to have side conversations. People form their own online friends and cliques anyway, must we encourage this further through only counting 'useful' posts (Judged useful by whom i might ask)? The General chat forum is a means for people to get to know other members.
I enjoy discussing books I have read, I do not enjoy being censored in what I am allowed to speak about and what not. I occassionally enjoy a small jaunt into petty small talk. For those who don't enjoy it, fine, your perogative. If you get rid of post counts, discount all of them and perhaps have a ranking system based on how long someone has been a member. Do not use post counts as a means to judge people and to be intellectually prejudiced. How horrible... really. Can't we just have nice relaxed forum where one can enjoy conversing with another member, why does this information even matter?
Yes, our forum is The Book Forum, this overall theme is why the majority of the forums deal with reading. One general chat forum will not kill us. People can decide for themselves whom they deem to be a true lover of books and who is just here to chat. Creating a class system based on where you post only seems to encourage elitism.