I agree. Well, for the most part edutainment Youtube videos are pretty much the opposite of entertaining for me. Irritating? But I agree Scott Alexander's essay length is an issue.
I read SSC, and like it, but an editor would improve him. I think his superfans are very entertained by his lame jokes, and like his particular voice, so extra length is more of what they want, even if it doesn't contain much new information. For me, its OK, but if the essays could be 20% shorter with the about the same content, it would bump him up in my list.
I read "The Control Group is Out of Control" last night right before bed and it seemed like time stood still, it was so engrossing. So I thought I disagreed with your "essay length is an issue." But it turns out the essay is close to 5k words!
I haven't read much SSC, but something tells me I'd like his lame jokes.
I read SSC, and like it, but an editor would improve him. I think his superfans are very entertained by his lame jokes, and like his particular voice, so extra length is more of what they want, even if it doesn't contain much new information. For me, its OK, but if the essays could be 20% shorter with the about the same content, it would bump him up in my list.