I think the author is being overly sensitive here, and the reviewers are actually giving good advice. Most methods papers in most fields are ignored by the vas

I think the author is being overly sensitive here, and the reviewers are actually giving good advice. Most methods papers in most fields are ignored by the vast majority of researchers. Just like the author doesn't have the time to rewrite his code in R, his prospective audience doesn't have the time to learn a new software package just to try out his proposed method. If the author actually wants to change the way research is conducted in his field, he needs to make it easy for others to try his method out and possibly change the way they do research. As of today, that means an R package. Or, the author can dig in his heels, refuse to write an R package, and be ignored. Maybe that isn't fair, but as I've learned through my own experiences, that's the way it is.