Change default DR value for existing users

Anki Suggestions
1

This suggestion is only useful temporarily. For the default desired retention value, we can perhaps use the average retention of the user instead of 90%. This would reduce the chances of users facing really high or low review workloads when we get the switch to FSRS from SM2.

Of course, it wouldn’t be perfect but IMO still better than starting off existing users who switch to FSRS with a DR of 90%.

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2

I think this idea has merit.

I would add: when a user begins using FSRS, it is beneficial for him to understand the basics of what “Desired retention” means and why he may want a value different from historical retention.

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3

@dae sending a one-time ping :satellite_antenna:

4

90% is the typical sweet spot between retention and efficiency. Isn’t it better to deviate from that based on a conscious decision of the user, instead of blindly copying what their previous performance was, even if it was suboptimal and not intended?

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5

If someone was using SM-2 with retention rate of 80% they might have not bothered to change the settings to get 90%. Also, some debates are going on over the sweet spot.

Note that I’m just talking about existing users, not new users.

6

@L.M.Sherlock do you have an opinion?

7

I don’t think we can assume that someone who has been getting 85% or 80% (or 64%) retention with SM-2 is necessarily switching to FSRS in order to maintain that level. If that’s a user who isn’t going to seek out the settings to adjust their DR themselves, I think we should put FSRS’s best foot forward and stick with the default of 90%.

I wonder where you’re thinking we would draw the line. If it’s between =0 reviews and >0 reviews, then an essentially new user who has been dabbling and experimenting for a couple days (possibly not even with real cards) before they enable FSRS gets lumped in with a user with many years’ experience. That seems to miss the mark.

A user switching over might be helped with something more along the lines of being presented with the information and offered a choice, e.g. “The default DR is 90% – your average retention for the past month is X. Do you want to stick with the default or change it?”

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