For example the automated pinned mod comment could be used as a starting point for casual answers and discussions. Stuff like "I forgot the source, but I read that..." or "not an expert, but I'm pretty sure that ... because ...". As great as it is to push for the very high quality answers this sub receives, many thread often look pretty deserted, even tho I'm sure some people could at least give some decent insight, even if they don't have the time to back up there post with sources right now.
Ah, the chatter thread suggestion. We've considered that, and our reasons for not having one are laid out in this Rules Roundtable. Freewheeling, low-moderation discussion can be had in the Friday Free-For-All threads, or elsewhere on reddit.
There is already a sub for this, though. R/history. Doubling it in r/AskHistorians which has a different function just feels redundant and counterproductive.
Not all deletions will be casual but poor replies or "here is something I got from wiki/google" but things that would have to be removed so the numbers of deleted "replies" may be rather less then you think.
In terms of pretty empty: Each week, over a hundred questions (check out the Sunday Digests) will get an answer by someone who has the knowledge to give an accurate answer, the effort and the time to craft a full answer that will explain it. Of course, we have over a hundred questions coming in so yes, there is a gap but I don't think reducing the quality is the answer.
This subreddit has a better no answer then a bad answer policy for a bad answer can mislead. If the person doesn't have the time to craft a proper answer then yes that is sad but the person asking deserves a proper answer rather then one dashed off in five or ten minutes where the research hasn't been done.
The mods lower standards to a "allow chatty/one liners with wiki and google in?" As u/eksokolova has mentioned, what makes this place different from the other history reddits? People come here with hundreds of questions each week in the hopes of being one that will get answered. If they do then hey have a very good chance of it being accurate, informative and something that will deepen their understanding of history.
Instead what they may get is a bad answer, a half thought out answer and chats around it. Some may go "ah that is the answer" (whatever they feel about the quality of the post) since it got left up and thus go away arguably knowing less then they did when they asked and even if it is accurate, they don't really come out of it learning much. Or they leave since they can get that quality of answer elsewhere.
Those that do contribute properly, usually take hours to prepare an answer as they research and type a proper answer that fully explains. They know here that they will have the time to do so, that no casual five minute answer will be left up and get the attention, the upvotes despite it being wrong and their long work will come in "late" and be ignored. So they leave.
The reason people come here simply goes.
Like u/mimicofmodes I'm also not convinced that letting chats flow will lead to people finding the answer. It isn't my expirence at any rate. People pick up things here and there (novels, games, films, folklore, internet) and can come at the question with a position based on the wrong assumptions. Which then leads to wrong information, ideas that are logical within the parameters of their understanding of the subject but wrong. Giving the wrong answer and spreading wrong information which goes rather against the point of this subreddit.