Default setting like that is because people can call sb names, thats what SD writer said. Don't you think it's not reasonable? Exchanging communication(I'd say teamplay) for being sure, that nobody will call sb politically incorrectly? Well, i don't know what about text-chat, which is far more frequently used for insult purposes. I know one can turn it (back) on, but many won't, so you cannot cooperate with occasionally met ppl.

Found yesterday on this site: http://newbreview.com/2010/11/16/speaking-with-ed-stern/ (it's not working now, i hope it's temporary issue)

I'd say: VOIP default off in public, turned on in parties. If they offer us a quickchatmode like Quake wars or Wolf:ET there won't be any problems communicating with your team. In addition, the commander voice announces new missions, which also helps you without you havind to do a thing.

I see the problem with moving&shooting&SeekingProperOptionInVoiceChatMenu - human can speak independently to what he's doing on keyboard, but if one need his fingers to dance on the keyboard to send simple message, it's easier... much easier to send "Move!" while "fall back!" was intended - just bad key pressed. It's really what makes ETQW, since patch 1.2, better game, than ET - you don't need additional soft to talk to people, so there is much more communication, and of course much more teamplay. You no longer needed to type "Hey, nice shoot, but there is an explosive charge on top of the car you stay next to... I really couldn't type this faster, sorry!". Same with grenades in many cases, same with enemy on the unusual spot - there is no efficient voiceChat command for describing it, i guess, and typing "Camper behind white barrel!" - is simply bad idea in a fast game.

It depends on what you want to do. Play public or competitive. It's great for competitive gaming, but I hate VOIP in public.

Well, if the canned chat is as good as they claim, then players will have most of the information they need to work together reasonably well. The game will tell soldiers when you're low on ammo, tell medics when you are hurt, offer revival missions when you're downed, and offer bodyguard missions to soldiers when you accept a main objective mission (just to name a few).

Where the lack of VOIP would really be noticeable would be situations where you are killed by an operative from behind, and have 3 teammates in front of you. Nothing in canned chat is going to be as effective as saying "Turn around, spy!"

But then again, I'm going to turn all VOIP on the moment I get the game, if someone ends up being a jerk, I'll just mute him. No big deal.

Righto. Communication among a team is an enormous benefit. If you can coordinate movements with your squad, everyone comes out for the better of it.

I only ever use the context comm button in BC2... I never wear my headset unless gaming with friends, and TBH, find it annoying when some annoying random is screaming, singing, yelling at their mom, talking on the phone, etc etc etc over my speakers and end up having to mute them if they don't Please continue, my good sir.. (or leave and find a new squad... depends if they are useless or not... I usually leave em, ppl rarely offer me a good spawn point anyways)

I′m not a fan at all of having voice off, im not a talker in multiplayer games, but hearing dudes make it feel real and more social, a lot of times playng black ops i wonder if im playng with bots or not.. wich svcks

off by default is a lot better than on.
the smart people will know it's there and they'll turn it on, the kiddies on the other hand, you know, the ones who scream over the chat and make you out to be whatever's on their mind at the time, might not.
very good point if you ask me

If someone's giving me a problem/headache, I'll just mute them. I like having the decision myself, I don't like having my options altered...