Key point: LLC's can't offer stock options. If there's any hiring planned, you're going to want to offer options.

I noticed that -- cool. Better news than seeing the NYC Tech Meetup sold out and expanding from 400 to a bigger venue that could support 600, while DC Tech Meetup hovering around 20. NYC/DC ratio can't be that bad!

My partner & I wrestled with the same issue -- craigslist is fugly but functional, etc. Does depend on audience, but we're following Mint's path. First pass was functional but bad UI (probably an extension of the prototype), then they got $4M and voila. If you're asking for all their financial data, it probably can't look like MySpace.

Always, always, politely decline from naming another firm. It never does any good.

I founded four companies, and have always made them 'transparent' to prospective employees. In fact, I show them a projected cap table that tells them what they can expect -- 2 more financings to liquidity, the opportunity to pick up an another ~30k options, $10/share exit = $600k and growing -- IF we all work hard and pull together. If they're not forthcoming with you at this point, they won't be down the line.