I've googled and read but it's not getting through - I'm sorry. Could you offer an answer or explanation yourself?
There are so many excellent sources concerning REST on the Internet, I believe you will not fail to achieve enlightenment.
I retrieved some old files/notes on REST today and was enjoying the memories. But should I help someone who foolishly tosses out accusations of condescension or another who speaks of "non-answers" when all the answers one needs are out there purely for the reading?
Indeed, due to the settled nature of REST it seems hardly a suitable topic for HN, like asking "Why SQL?" or "Why FORTRAN-77"? The thread topic question was asked/discussed/answered in all respects nearly two decades ago. Its so old that some information about REST is aging off the WWW and the original participants are starting to die off (don't get your hopes up, Microsoft!).
Good question, why don't you trying actually doing that with references to specific, useful sources if you think that is what is necessary?
> Indeed, due to the settled nature of REST it seems hardly a suitable topic for HN
If you feel it's OT, then flag and move on rather than threadcrapping.
(Also, REST is rather far from settled; a variety of different things called REST are popular, but they aren't the same thing as eachother or over time, and they often are quite distant from the architectural style Fielding described.)