There's some value in according a closing admin scope for the exercise of discretion.  There's also some value in having controversial decisions made according to a rule of general applicability that's known to everyone in advance.  I'm concerned that we're tilting too far toward the former.  People on both sides put a huge amount of effort into the Brandt AfD, and then the decision effectively hinged on which admin happened to grab it first.  The latter point is also true of the Finkelstein article  there are quite a few admins who would have closed it as a keep.  I don't like playing Admin Roulette with such matters.  t c