The videogame compass

Mainstream
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Casual---------|-------------Hardcore
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Obscure

Why does Nethack behave like this.
1.Provide an option to "Eat" armor.
2.Says that you can't do that.
Wouldn't it be easier to not display the option at all on non-edible stuff?

A thought experiment.
For every single gameplay element/system of Nethack ask yourself:
1.Would the game feel worse without it?
2.If answer is no, strike it from list.
3.Try next element/system.
4.Write down all the systems that survived.
5.Post it here.