On the xkcd thing, meh. If your users map is similar to a population map, then it means you're appealing to a broad slice of the population. If it's centred in one area, that means you're not appealing outside that area. There's nothing wrong with such a map if it's interpreted correctly.

> If your users map is similar to a population map, then it means you're appealing to a broad slice of the population.

Er, no, it just means there's no geographic component to your appeal within the limits of the map. Could be a very narrow slice, but even distributed in population.

I think we mean the same thing, but are describing it differently. Certainly what you're mentioning is information in itself, not 'no information'.

Of course, this doesn't mean it shouldn't be a pet peeve, just that being a peeve doesn't mean it's actually wrong or misleading, just that it's annoying to the... erm... 'peevee'?

I'd be interested in comparisons to sport. e.g., in a pro basketball league, a significant percentage of players never play more than a handful of games while a more select group rack up hundreds. Both groups are performing after all.