I've felt that encouraging alternate answers that are helpful, but not necessarily definitive, addresses some of the concerns with 'answers in comments' meta-discussions. Very often there is more to add to another answer than fits in comments, and really those longer comments should be vetted too by other users... confusing to do when a point is not included in the answer added to.
Sometimes, however, a useful addition might be helpful, but include one or two words that move it from helpful to'wrong'.
In this answer ( https://english.stackexchange.com/a/447948/213359 ) the author starts with:
The best way to clarify the statement is to use direct speech instead of indirect speech.
IMO, the 'answer' or perhaps 'approach' isn't dead wrong and could be a good work-around. As an answer, it allows comments on its merits or shortcomings
Unfortunately "best" is an unnecessary contention - and makes it "wrong" (we have voting for that anyway)
Is editing a "best" contention fair/good/polite practice ? Say from
- "The best way"
to
- "One way"
I think down-votes discourage alternative answers, AND 'best' reinforce the idea that there needs to be a "winner" . Clearly BAD approaches still deserve a down-vote and occasional gaming to down-vote a mediocre answer that is appearing above what someone feels is a far better answer might occasionally be justifiable.
Anyway, just curious on others' thoughts.