While (2) is true, an environment crowded with nitpickers means that the expected value of the average comment in the community declines. This may continue past the point that you stop expecting any of the discussion to be worthwhile.
My impression is that “the expected value of the average comment” is predominantly the function of the average IQ of the commentariat and only in a very minor way the function of their propensity to nitpick.
While (2) is true, an environment crowded with nitpickers means that the expected value of the average comment in the community declines. This may continue past the point that you stop expecting any of the discussion to be worthwhile.
Also, pedantic nitpickers feed on each other.
My impression is that “the expected value of the average comment” is predominantly the function of the average IQ of the commentariat and only in a very minor way the function of their propensity to nitpick.