A meaningless statement without context. Places with different levels of mandates also tend to be disparate in terms of population density and demographics. A cherry-picked study showing that masks weren't needed to conserve hospital utilization in Bumfark, Oklahoma will tell us nothing about what to expect in crowded urban areas.

Then there's the easily-justified suspicion that officials in right-leaning areas are rigging the data they report ("Stop testing so much, it makes us look bad!")

These debates always seem to turn into perpetual playground games where duelling studies are whipped out like Magic cards. For every one you cite, I'll cite one that says something else. Consensus is the only way to make good decisions in such an epistemic environment. I'll continue to look to public health authorities for that, not bloggers, podcasters, politicians, celebrities, or HN commenters.