Erik, don't be to sure that this information is worthless.
it is in this context

For instance when I have been tasked with comparing the efficiency of multiple compilers, I have, in the initial phase, had no concern for whether the code was working, just the size. When the candidates were reduced to a low number, then the functionality becam interesting. Likewise, in this context it is irrelevant whether the code works or not if it truly represent the outline of the implemetation of a given function for the purposes of comparing C and BASIC from the viewpoint of writing it.

you, yourself state With QBasic the problem turned out to be simple which clearly says this is not about efficiency (where I bet C would win by a large margin) but about 'coding ease' and in that context it is irrelevant if Andys example has a small bug.

Erik