[ParetoOptimal]

The biggest downside to pair programming is that unless you are a strong communicator and feel like investing the energy, great ideas get averaged down to well.. Average.

It doesn't have to be the case, but because of averages it typically is.

[hmeh]

If I understand what you are saying correctly, you are saying that if two people are pairing and the one with the better idea does not successfully communicate their idea, either from lack of trying or lack of effectiveness, then the person with the lesser idea might "win" and that is what would be implemented?

If so, I would say that the appropriate response to that is to, as a team, work to improve communication and collaboration consistently -- every day, in every work item. Leadership should reinforce the import, exemplify it, and observe and coach.

In general, what it sounds like you are saying is that people who are bad at things do things poorly. Yes, that's true, but that's why we have all the tools we have available to us to help them do things better. We don't have to like in squalor, we can choose to help each other rise above it.