There's interest in implementing Markdown import and improving RTF conversion in H+M, to incorporate material from outside sources. One of the use cases is subject-matter experts creating new/updating existing topics. That is, the import isn't from a legacy repository, it's part of an ongoing authoring workflow.
For that scenario, why not create a free-of-charge version of H+M for authors, that can create/edit TinyXML files, import RTF/Markdown to a single topic, add pictures and media links, check spelling, apply existing styles, but:
- Can't create new projects, styles, variables, templates;
- Can't manage the TOC (not sure if there should even be a TOC visible);
- Can't update styles or apply inline formatting (except B, I, U perhaps?);
- Can't change the project configuration;
- Can't publish to output formats (except maybe a basic print-preview sort of PDF for proofing?).
Thoughts?