Most "nukings" can be undone. However, the "gain" is a record of why the node was deleted so that a determination can be made as to whether or not it should be undone. It also addresses issues like someone bookmarking a question and coming back to find that it disappeared. A reaping would likely leave a pointer to a better source of similar information, for example.

Also, a reaped node doesn't require more space than a nuked node. And the percentage is so incredibly tiny that it doesn't matter anyway.

I think the idea is fine. I doubt it will be done, however. Someone would need to implement filtering of reaped nodes from all of the several CatQ+A displays and then implement the reaping mechanism.

I doubt it will be done, however.
Someone would need to ... implement the reaping mechanism.

Oh ye of little faith! ;-)

I've already demonstrated that much on the dev server. But not:

implement filtering of reaped nodes from all of the several CatQ+A displays

Would that really be necessary? Yes, it would look nicer; but on the other hand, it would be inconsistent with the other sections of the site, which display reaped root nodes, unfilterably.

We're building the house of the future together.

CatQ+A isn't much like the other sections. That is why nuking was allowed there. It makes no sense to me to include a bunch of noise in a section meant to help the relatively inexperienced find answers.

- tye