<p>I'd like avoid actually answering your question here to briefly address your fourth paragraph, as I believe that's a paraphrase of my argument from <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/400/is-this-question-really-not-related-to-statistical-analysis">this question</a>.  Please correct me if I'm mistaken.</p>

<p>I don't think that the danger is that we'll dilute discussions about statistical theory.  There's a substantial middle ground between LaTeX-laden theoretical questions and "How do I read my data into SAS?" - questions where we actually <em>talk about doing analysis</em>.  Not the deep-math theoretical aspects, not which tool to use or how to do X in Software Y, but actual analysis of data.  It's that middle ground that I'm most concerned about preserving.  I can read articles for theory, and I can RTFM for help with my software, but the only way I can get better at analysis is by getting feedback on my analyses and seeing what others are doing.  As I work in relative isolation, that's often tough for me to do; here, I can get people from all over the world advising me on how to model my data.  That's amazing.  That's a hell of a lot more amazing than tech support or theoretical discussion.  And that's what I want to preserve.</p>

<p>Sheesh, I feel like I'm posting political speeches today.  Sorry.</p>
