I should have mentioned up front that I strongly agree with your core point about legal penalties and their effects on selection bias. I was hoping the Wikiped

I should have mentioned up front that I strongly agree with your core point about legal penalties and their effects on selection bias. I was hoping the Wikipedia page on 'expert systems' would bail me out the examples front, but its 'disadvantages' section isn't all that clear or complete. It does touch on the issue I mentioned, though. I think many high-frequency stock trading algorithms are examples. The trades may as well be magical, and as long as the program makes money the owner doesn't much care why.