Re: switch-to-buffer: for interactive use only

[Chong Yidong]

Stefan Monnier <address@hidden> writes:

>> Then tell my what you expect a function like `pop-to-buffer-same-window'
>> do differently from `switch-to-buffer'.
>
> One of the two needs to display the buffer, "no matter what", whereas
> the other needs to only affect the selected window.

Why does `switch-to-buffer' need to only affect the selected window?
What's wrong with using a different window, instead of signaling a
error, if the selected window can't be used?