So instead of asking my social networks by just asking them, they're trying to convince me I need another app installed to be able to do what I can already do?
This is a solution solving a non-existent problem.
Some people create solutions for existing problems and others create new ways doing existing tasks.
This falls into the latter. Coming from Biz Stone you shouldn't be that surprised. I'd be shocked if his start up was solving a well known and critical pain that is immediately obvious.
In a way, sure, but not entirely. Jelly offers a way to forward questions along to others in your network, so it helps extend peoples' networks beyond their first degree connections. It is also purpose driven, your inquiries aren't mixed up with selfies and game announcements or family drama, presumably.
I ask people questions all the time on twitter, and frequently get useful answers. In turn I often RT my followers own questions if I don't know the answer.
I'm sure Jelly will have other benefits, but in this respect it just another unnecessary layer on top of twitter for me.
I think it's more direct than a retweet, but you're right that it's just another layer. That's not to say that a purpose driven layer can't be useful/grow into its own right. Twitter was just a layer on top of SMS at one point.
This is a solution solving a non-existent problem.