The notion that it will somehow create an encyclopedia filled with " nothing but dumbed-down pap" is a bald
assertion
which has no basis in reality.
Jay
I would agree that Ec overstates the case. The point that seems to need making is that none of the content policies actually _makes for_ brilliant prose, which is one thing we also want. If clumsily or over-insistently applied, any reliability-oriented policy can make for lame writing. Academic books don't read like Tom Clancy.
So I say that content policies are also subordinate to the goal of creating awesomeness in the encyclopedia. I like to think in terms of two extremes, Blandopedia and Gonzopedia. The spaced-out stuff has to be squeezed out. But playing safe will only tend to accentuate the bias towards WP's existing strengths.
Charles