If I add a poll to a post topic that has already reached it's maximum allowed space, the topic won't be posted. But still everything is within what is supposed to be allowed. If I did not go around this by shortening, I'd say something like "why can't I post my new post" or "why does it say I'm over the maximum allowed character for the topic"... I bet many don't even try anymore and, well, why should one want people that don't what to post the new topic bad enough to try different models to reach their goal.