Quote Originally Posted by Zojha View Post
The problem is: For the theory to be wrong, you must either have miscalculated (human error) or the potencies in the tooltips have to be wrong (game error). If the potencies in the tooltip can be wrong, so can the numbers in the battle log and thus the parsing result. Thus, assuming no human error, the "proof" is just as likely to be wrong as the theory itself. No biggie if both fit together, but sucks when there's a mismatch because you can only check for human error in the calculations and parsing algorithm.
I get your point here. The mathematical comparison of two calculations (rotations) in the absence of other influences wouldn't be wrong (omitting the errors you described). Parsers being the proof of what can be done in a situation by a particular player (taking into account the variances such as player lag, error and fight mechanics).

Measurement of the practical application is just as important but that doesn't contradict your point that comparison of two rotations does not need a parser to show which is better in that perfect scenario model (which is what we strive to implement to maximize dps).

Consider my view clarified. (Hopefully)