WSS Create new site collections from Site Directory checkbox grayed out

I was trying to change my site creation from the default of creating subsites to creating site collections in WSS 3.0 today. It took some effort to figure out that you have to have a site directory site first even if you don't want to use the site directory. However, I still faced the problem that the option I really needed to change on the Site Directory Settings page was, errrr, grayed out:

It turned out that the Self-Service Site Management has to be turned on for the web application that this site collection sites on. It makes sense but it's just one of the many gotchas of SharePoint.


To turn on Self-Service Site Management, go to Central Admin -> Application Management -> Self-Service Site Management (under Application Security), and check On and Save. Then go back to the Site Directory Settings page of the site collection. The checkbox is enabled now.