I could agree or disagree, Keith. I'm not sure what opinion to have. I'd have to see the specifics. Sometimes nodes are left in at initial settings that do nothing, but the end user may want to change the value. For example, my VSS shaders have a SSS Strength parameter that is equal to 1 by default. Multiplying by 1 is a waste of time, of course, but it isn't there to multiply with 1. It's there so an end user who finds the SSS effect is too strong can change it to less than 1, or if its too weak, change it to more than 1. Without that node, allowing a potentially meaningful multiplication, the user would have to change 4 or 5 other values. I leave that node in as a master parameter.

The key decider is whether the "useless" node connects to more than one thing. If it only goes to one place, and is not pulled out of the spaghetti for clarity, then it probably is dumb.

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Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)