after 4.6 billion years, at the current lightning strike rate, every square meter of land should contain far more fossilized lightning strikes than it can even hold.
Hmm. This is pretty easy to criticize. If the model shows something that's impossible, then the model is wrong. Either poor math skills, or they didn't take erosion into account. I guess I was using the layman's formulation "the simplest explanation is usually the correct one".
Okay. So, I think they're agreeing that it's wrong. But, differing from you, I think they're saying maybe the 4.6 billion years is wrong.
I believe you're dismissive of their interpretation, but holding onto yours.
So a quick question: If you read the article, where are all of the fulgurites?
Erosion isn't a fabulous explanation either, you know. Many fulgurites form as deep as 30 to 50 feet below the surface. And if fulgurite creation happens as often as mentioned in the article, where'd all the glass/quartz go?
If you agree that one part of the equation is wrong, do you concede that it could be either part of the equation...or just the part you don't ascribe to?