The change in discussion quality has occurred because old Twitter had an objective to cultivate one particular quality of discussion, and Musk Twitter has an objective to cultivate a different quality of discussion. These goals were stated up front by the respective decision makers. Any particular technique is simply a tool for the job. If old Twitter or new Twitter thought a method would aid in their quality cultivation goals, then they would have adopted it: if it proved counterproductive, then they would drop it.

So there is almost certainly a correlation to the boost that is given to comments. But even if it is a causative correlation, the ultimate cause is not the bluecheck boost, but the desire of the decisionmaker.

Most of the sports accounts would fall under "Retweeting press releases". I'm talking about people I followed, many of whom were historians so would often publish original analysis, pictures they'd personally combed the archives for and digitized, that sort of thing.

Very much NOT pop culture/politics/etc.