But, going back to the original post, people ARE relying on WAR to value players. Everybody likes a single number. It's shorthand. It's easier. So I think we're getting it wrong and I think we ought to improve it. It ain't goin' away.
What do you suppose these "better defensive metrics" are that teams use? I don't think they exist. I think there's guesswork.
And I think there's discounting.