An IRC channel is nice, although I would really like if "big" questions still came by the forum so everyone can read them, learn from them and then google can find the solutions to...

But, the channel idea is very good... since #PHP and other channels aren't really productfriendly and most of the time don't want to help you with any "package" wich is normal though

Thx to Martin Hujer btw, I'll join in soon