I don't think the quant analysis eliminates debate (i.e. it will have advocates and critics). However, it does focus the debate on better issues. The question

I don't think the quant analysis eliminates debate (i.e. it will have advocates and critics). However, it does focus the debate on better issues. The question of housing may hang on exactly how much new housing is introduced by allowing people to kill more birds, for instance. Without the quantification, you might still be arguing about how much green space should be mandated. (These examples are pulled out of thin air). To put my point another way, the absence of criticism is not a benefit of quant analysis.