I'm not sure if this would work against any of the existing philosophies of PM, it's hard to gauge, but I'd like to suggest that we add a new feature to the site such that

an OP can indicate that any of the replies attached to their post are an "accepted answer"

this way, scanning the headlines on a post you can see "oh, that OP found an answer" or not... this gives the OP the power to say "*That* is what I was looking for" so if you have the same problem, you can easily focus in on the relevent reply(s), reading the others only to fill the context or gather other info.

this idea is not my own, it is in use on AskMetaFilter and I must say it is quite helpful, it also provides a(n additional?) smooth, creamy ego boost to the poster that supplied the "answer", maybe even toss said answerer some bonus XP too (not that they wouldn't already get that XP from the increased attention to their post, the "answer")
so, for an illustration, go and read some comments associated with any question that has a small checkmark next to where it says "X comments" - those have "answers"

...it could be argued though that XP fills this niche, albeit even better by allowing "gradients" of "answers" and letting the hive mind decide rather than the OP.
but ah, shall we discuss?

It's not what you look like, when you're doin' what you’re doin'.
It's what you’re doin' when you’re doin' what you look like you’re doin'!
     - Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band

In reply to indicating "the answer" by qbxk

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