Although at first glance the matrix of the 12 variables may seem a li'l quick'n'dirty, it's a quite refreshing and worthwhile approach, IMHO. "Approach" in the strict sense of the term, as checking the 12 variables is very suited at "First Encounter" with a given community. After having filled all 12 with community-specific content one already has quite an overview over the scrutinized community's "gestalt". This overview not only serves analysis but is quite of some help for the participant observator's own life and navigation inside the community. Then of course the "real work" starts -- just as it's always the case with fieldwork, may it be on- or offline.
And the methodological/theoretical issue of joining the sketched 12 variables with sociological and social/cultural anthropological discourse on "community" still has to be done.