The NFL makes compensatory picks convoluted w/o any real reason for both teams and fans, but given this is season for hardcore or even 'nerd' fans, I don't get people who want to waste everyone's time posting what they "believe' versus at learning something about the process.
The guy in the link I posted CLAIMS that his guesstimation is based on the work of AdamJT...and no Adam was just a geek who started to notice patterns and tried to apply what he noticed.
Still really no reason for the NFL not make it more direct than it does.
I can definitely see reasons why the NFL wouldn't want the teams fully understanding the methodology. Teams cutting players by certain dates, not starting them all 16 games / pulling them in games already decided, veterans negotiating weird back-loaded contracts, etc. It's harder to "massage the numbers" if you don't know what you're aiming for.
Hell, maybe I'm naïve and the only ones who don't know are the fans.