What effect does the Hot Network Questions algorithm have on answer quality?

The goal is to understand how the Hot Network Questions (HNQ) algorithm’s selection criteria affect the quality of answers on featured posts across the Stack Exchange network.

Because the exact formula weights are not publicly disclosed, observers rely on patterns from Meta discussions and limited A/B test notes, creating uncertainty about whether the current balance favors high‑traffic tags or adequately serves smaller communities.

Does the current weighting favor high‑traffic tags at the expense of niche sites? How might adjusting the score threshold influence cross‑site exposure? Which metrics should be prioritized to balance visibility and answer quality?