"Gentlemen,
Conrad's question and your answers represent the most effective demolition of the case for metric that we have seen on these threads.
Let us savour this defining moment."

If this is "effective" then why is it?

Because Conrad was basically saying that "one size fit's all" is the approach to take - which was open to parody.

Anyway, the whole thread was tinged with humour.

Well BWMA, were you being humourous?