Every html renderer have ignored extra spaces since the beginning of the web, it's part of the standard definition of the language.

It's not Neatorama comment system that strips the extra spaces, it's your browser.

Only way to retain extra spaces in html is to use the tag for preformated text.

About the use of double space at the end of a sentence, it's the first time I heard about it. Maybe it was a rule related with the English language? (I'm Argentine)

On related news: A massive human avalanche in Chine leaves 9000 deads and several hundreds missing. Authorities said rescue operations are underway but have met some resistance from the Guinnes Books of Records committee.