I want to have a post where I can say, “Facebook’s getting a little better”, but they just won’t let me!!

Now they’re removing core functionality so that developers can take a crack at it:

4:48pm Wednesday, Jul 25
Developers - Now is the time to build education applications on Facebook Platform! Facebook will be phasing out its Courses feature in early August, and we wanted to make sure you were the first to know.

Collaboration services and applications are a big part of the world of Education. Especially on college campuses, where we first found our roots. Many of you have probably used some kind of collaboration software as a part of your courses. Our courses application was a great way to connect with new friends, and find your classmates. But, we think Facebook Developers can create even more robust ways to create, connect, and collaborate around teaching and learning in the classroom.

This is a great business opportunity, with vast distribution potential, and a great way to fundamentally affect an important part of the lives of students worldwide.

Courses, of course, is that area of the Facebook site where you list what courses you’re in - that way, with one click, you can see everyone who’s in your class and on Facebook who did the same. It’s a nice, easy way to put a name with the face of the person who sits next to you.

“Great business opportunity” indeed… the only reason the old system worked was that most everyone used it - splintering people into a half dozen different applications would make them all useless.

At least keep the old system, and layer a “web2.0ey” application ON TOP - don’t take away the simple features for those who like them. I admit myself that having a cool note-sharing application for classes would be awesome; I’ve long thought about starting up a blog where all I’d be posting up are my notes - letting people comment to give me feedback on ‘em (or setting up a wiki).

Having it in facebook would ensure a usefully large userbase for a “wikinotes” application - but you’d be gaining maybe 5-10 people in your class who want to noteshare, and loosing the ability to see nearly everyone in the class.

I see it as a net loss - if I can see everyone in my class, I can at least choose them to share notes with. If I’m using a noteshare application, I’ll only be able to see a few people (who may or may not have the IQ of a day-old piece of toast).