&gt; The arXiv is great because it puts everybody at the same level. It ensures that the best ideas have a chance to come out, independently from their origin.<p>With arXiv as a basis for comparison, what is your impression of what the other &#x2F; older methods of dissemination overvalue and undervalue? For example, my impression is that the other methods favor top U.S. research institutions, but maybe that&#x27;s realistic; maybe the older methods actually undervalue top institutions (despite my egalitarian fantasies). Maybe gender or experience or position or scope or novelty or other things are over&#x2F;undervalued.<p>I do notice that in scientific research, institution is almost a surname in people&#x27;s identities. It&#x27;s always &#x27;Jane Doe of Harvard&#x27;; it seems like it might as well be &#x27;Jane Doe Harvard&#x27;.