Without this the comparison will attempt to do `==` on two biggus arrays - an operation which is not yet defined.

So yes, it will trigger data loading as a way to dodge the issue. To be honest, I can't remember all the motivations behind that decision. It could even have been, "Hack something in for now and fix it properly later."!

If it's possible to define equality on biggus Arrays (at least in some vaguely usable sense) perhaps that would be the best route.