[Geckomlis]

I think that most players don't read manuals in detail, and it's very, very hard to write a complete manual (and even more difficult to find the information in it) for a game as complicated as SE IV.

True. Users of manuals (and other similar reference documents such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc) tend to seek specific information rather than read comprehensively. It is not very, very hard to write a complete manual for a game like SEIV (or any software application of equivalent complexity). What is hard is writing a complete manual for software that is constantly in development flux and that does not follow rigid design specifications - then meeting the beta test and final release deadlines so the manual and software ship concurrently. Writing a complete manual for released software that will not experience significant changes in functionality…that can be done with time and persistence as a labor of love.

Sure that this kind of detail would be usefull. But it's so fun trying to discover this information by ourselves, why should we waste our pleasure?

Personally, I agree that the process of discovery is a rare pleasure. However, the lack of quality (good content and good organization) documentation can be a significant barrier to entry for new players – and I want more people to play.