Is a very long comment on the first question a better answer? Or very long comments read? Is the point lost in a lengthy response?

To be impartial here, I've found over the years that long questions, answers and comments rarely get read. Some are just boring and some just have way too much info in them. Now, this isn't always but just something I've seen here over the years. I try to stay brief and to the point if I can.

Rooster is in a better position to answer this, but I can tell you how I look at it.

Generally speaking, I like to fix things.  But unless I am specifically asked to do so, I only interfere in what I perceive to be an emergency.

A question on here comes under the category of my being asked to help fix whatever is not working correctly, or that seems just plain broken.

In such a case, I'm generally pleased to have all the parts that you consider important to be dumped in my lap, so to speak.

I can always put aside the information that I don't need.

Type away.

Depends upon the question.

I've seen some that require no more then a single one syllable answer, and others that are a "Multipart" question, that the answerer is looking within themselves to provide, at the very least, their perspective.

Some questions aren't nearly as simple to answer, UNLESS, the asker is looking for a confirmation bias to what they already THINK the answer should be.

I'll read long questions but never completely read long answers and comments. Most times, if I see a long drawn out answer, I won't even begin to read it.

I seldom read long, questions or answers.  I guess I just don't have the patience for them.  I think the best Q&A are always brief and concise if someone wants most people to read them.  It's just too much like work when you have to wade through "books".  :)