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"I wouldn't want the best surgeon in the world using a clotheshanger and a steak knife, though."

I'd prefer that over being operated on by a monkey in a fully stocked OR.

The surgeon will probably know enough to correctly weigh the risk of doing surgery with poor tools against not doing surgery at all.

They wouldn't let a monkey into a fully stocked OR unless it was the one being operated on. By the time you reach the level of competence to be allowed to operate an OR, the tools probably end up mattering more than individual variance in ability.

True, but that might still be better than the worst surgeon in the world with the best equipment.

The worst surgeon in the world would probably be a very skilled surgeon that is actively trying to hurt you.

Would you prefer me with an scalpel?

I'd prefer a med student with a scalpel.

I suppose there is an equilibrium point in every scenario.

A surgeon with a steak knife is preferable to me with a scalpel but not a medical student with a scalpel.

But I guess the point is scalpels are usually easier to get then surgeons (or med students). And their quality scale is more finite.