Discuss Findings

mid_tau_medium_amp_gentle_ring_defect_suppression_vs_stripe_mean -0.0025983 +/- 0.00018798 (d=-13.822, sign-consistent=0.0%); mid_tau_medium_amp_gentle_ring_isotropy_gain_vs_stripe_mean -0.20131 +/- 0.018239 (d=-11.037, sign-consistent=0.0%); mid_tau_gentle_ring_nonmonotone_curvature_gain_mean 0.0031335 +/- 0.00014916 (d=21.007, sign-consistent=100.0%)

REJECTED (contradictory metrics). Across 64 seeds, gentle ring curvature pinning worsens both primary pattern-quality metrics compared to stripes: defect suppression is negative (d=-13.8, 100% wrong sign) and isotropy gain is strongly negative (-0.201, d=-11.0, 100% wrong sign). The nonmonotone curvature gain is positive (d=21.0, 100% consistent), meaning the curvature response itself is real, but it does not translate into improved pattern quality. Ring geometry creates a measurable curvature signature while degrading the pattern it was supposed to organize.