Circles and circles and circles again (Or, 1:20am is no time to have thinky thoughts)

How do you decide whether or not to grant access in addition to subscribing to their journal?  Is it appropriate to grant someone access without subscribing?  When subscribing to a stranger's LJ, do you grant them access, or is that a step to be taken at a later date?  How do you decide when you're ready to grant access?  Why does this series of questions sound like the sex queries in Dolly magazine?  Is granting access the new euphemism for getting your knickers off?  Why aren't I in bed?

Seriously, though, these are things I've been pondering lately, and I'm curious to hear people's thoughts.  Have at it.