Trade-offs

On one of AVI's posts I commented: "How many IQ points are we willing to trade for a 30% better shot at getting rid of a cancer?"

I pulled the 30% number out of the air; for some cancers adding chemo to radiation gives a factor of 2 improvement.

Typically I've assumed my "value-added" to a conversation lay in "knowledge/analytical skill/sideways take/humor", but what if that's not always so?

I have it on good authority that other qualities are sometimes more valued.