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"Incredible, powerful information...." maybe, but based on an incredibly small and subjective sample of (mainly US) writers querying their manuscripts. And not even all of those, just the ones who can be bothered to notify the details.

I am a Query Tracker/Manager fan – I'm subscribed to one or two of their extras – but, sadly, I know the limitations.
 
"Incredible, powerful information...." maybe, but based on an incredibly small and subjective sample of (mainly US) writers querying their manuscripts. And not even all of those, just the ones who can be bothered to notify the details.

I am a Query Tracker/Manager fan – I'm subscribed to one or two of their extras – but, sadly, I know the limitations.

But like medical studies test a small sample of the population for indications of results, so is Querytracker a tool for writers to see a sample of what people are writing. Like @Hannah Faoileán says though, good concepts pop out from the crowd :)
 
But like medical studies test a small sample
The only medical studies that provide sufficient evidence to change clinical practice are large studies, preferably randomised controlled trials, which are statistically significant and peer reviewed. It doesn't follow that a small sample of QT users is statistically significant.
It may be a sort of barometer for general mood, but you couldn't base a critical decision on it.
And as you say, the intriguing concepts will always stand out regardless of trend.
I like Alyssa Matesic's videos, though. Enthusiasm as a general guide is helpful for writing where there are only fictional lives at stake ;)
 
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