If labor is all that we have to worry then yes. But building materials prices are almost the same everywhere, so they still wouldn't be able to afford it
Definitely not, a 2x1m plywood board in Tokyo cost ~$50, while the same one back in my hometown of Spain is $10 (despite the average wages being the same in both countries).
There's a big difference between "[if you're not a GM by age 14], it is unlikely that you can reach the top levels of chess." and "..then don't bother, it's hopeless". The former statement is perfectly valid, nobody saying that it's hopeless
Well, it's a report about cheating which is essentially claiming that if you're not a GM by age 14, then you must be cheating. Which is...kind of the same thing.
It literally does not say that. What do you want them to do? Leave out all the weird or suspicious stuff so that some other commenter will swing by and complain that they didn't analyze it?
The conclusion of their report is repeated several times; no evidence of OTB cheating.
> Leave out all the weird or suspicious stuff so that some other commenter will swing by and complain that they didn't analyze it?
I don't think any serious commenters are going to complain about the absence of stereotypes about "the greats" unbacked by statistical analysis. That is what is bad. The actual analysis of anomalously fast progress at equivalent ages is fine.
I believe the author's point is that there are just too many books out there.
Book reviews and ratings saves you time by helping you avoid the bad ones to begin with. In that case good star reviews does matter. The reviews helps you avoid those books that you mention in your example.
Though I agree that reading widely does help, it makes sense to focus your limited time to read and use sources that have been thoroughly reviewed by other people
