OTOH the other visible salaries make nice "comps" for appraising yourself to justify your raise. If you think about it, the usual reason you would want to negotiate a big raise is because you are significantly underpaid in the first place, and that shouldn't happen under this scheme as long as you're as transparent as the company is with your expectations and only accept what you believe is fair. Furthermore, if someone disagrees with you getting a big bump then maybe they have a point. You might have something to say if somebody two levels below you started posturing for a leadership role and more pay? This way you can't just ignore it and say it's none of your business - that's the kind of behavior this level of transparency discourages. Everyone's an owner.
You have a good point about it being risky. If any of these people end up making a great deal of money I hope they do more to obfuscate their identities in the public versions. From the looks of it right now they are all massively under market for their roles.. it's clear they're doing a startup and are taking startup sacrifices. I wouldn't worry about any of them being targeted as a filthy rich mark.
Apparently, you don't negotiate a big raise at Buffer. You prove that you've increased your experience level. The only thing I would add to the equation would be a multiple for "years employed at Buffer". Then they would be automatically handling raises for people as the stayed longer.
You could think you're in a meritocracy, that no one is getting an outsized deal over anyone else. The reality is that reviews and promotions will be subjective, gamed, or both. This is human nature. It might work with fewer than 100 employees. The military is proof it doesn't work in large organizations. The point and promotion system was endlessly gamed.
I upvoted this because I think your concerns are actually legitimate. I hope others will engage with your post rather than being turned off by the slightly inflammatory tone.
Want to negotiate a big raise? Sorry everyone will see and might not agree you deserve it.
Want a big salary bump at your next job? Sorry, the recruiter now holds all the cards in salary discussions.
Want to get robbed? Yes! We can facilitate this by publishing you are a top paid individual at company XYZ.