I feel like this post was a question with a legitimate statistical issue in it (though poorly identified in the question)... and was unfortunately moved fairly* quickly (indeed it disappeared while I was trying to formulate - off line - an explanation of the relevance of the issue that was raised, much to my frustration).
* relatively speaking, at least - to be fair it was here for several hours
Specifically, I feel the central issue was related to statistical algorithms (and has connections to topics like Rao-Blackwellization and importance sampling, for example).
I think it clearly falls under the last item in the list for what's on topic in the help (i.e., statistical and data-driven computing).
Indeed, even in the absence of my (too slow) attempt to make it clear there was a statistical issue there, I think the answer that was given before it was moved made it clear enough that it was pretty solidly on topic. (The crucial point is that second line of algebra.)
Frankly, I'm saddened to lose such a great, relevant answer from our site. One that I think is very likely to be useful to a subset of other users.
So two main questions:
1) Am I off-base? Is that really off topic? How would one tell?
2) Given that getting such a post back is relatively tricky, in the absence of at least a close vote* can these things be done ... a little more slowly, so there's a little more time to respond to them?
* that I saw, at least; if I had I'd have clicked the "leave open" button really hard. I may have needed a new trackpad.
(I don't wish to criticize the great work that the moderators do, nor would I remotely suggest that there's anything here but the highest of motives. I am mostly concerned about the speed on what was - in my opinion - at worst toward the borderline of being off topic and worthy of a chance for more extensive consideration.)
