Also, ID synchronizes the comments stored on their servers with your WordPress blog, so that the comments are stored in both places so that if the ID servers are down, the comments load from the local WordPress database. If you ever leave ID for some reason, there is nothing to do but deactivate the plugin. Plus, there are a lot more plugins and customization features. ID still does not have the Twitter reactions feature that Disqus has, but I think it might be starting to edge out Disqus in features.

I am currently using Disqus because I had a hard time handling spam in IntenseDebate comments. I must say I haven't seen a lot of spam since then. I used Akismet in both, so I wonder what made the difference.

The last post I wrote on this blog, I wanted to add a poll. I checked IntenseDebate, it has a plug-in for PollDaddy, Disqus doesn't! I almost switched back to IntenseDebate. But I thought I'd give Disqus another couple months.

After I wrote this review, I started using IntenseDebate for just the reason you mentioned – it is owned by the same organization that owns WordPress. I am sure I'll go back to IntenseDebate, one of these days.

However I love the fact that there is choice. It has been fairly easy to switch between the two too.

I do think that Disqus has a larger user base as compared to IntenseDebate – at least among the kind of blogs I read. That sometimes helps.

I agree that there are little advantages – but that is subjective, like you said, to what matters to you.

You've also failed to describe (and this may be due to the date of your review) all the great plugins that Intense Debate provides with a single click in the admin interface. Polls, Video, Translate and more. You'll have to excuse my ignorance here, but the last time I tried DIsqus they were lacking in the plugins area.

So it might not be a choice betwee Coke vs. Pepsi. There are some little advantages to ID, if they matter to you.