You keep telling me I should treat Bohr’s model and flat earth exactly the same way, but complained when I asked if you don’t see a difference between them. You have so far avoided saying what difference you do see, if any.
No, I'm not saying you should treat them exactly the same.
I am just pointing out that what you use to dismiss the FE model works equally well for the Bohr model.
It seems to be you want to use a vague set of requirements so you can arbitrarily decide things are scientific or not based upon your own personal preferences rather than any rational basis.
Getting close, finally.
I do see it as a vague set of requirements, as I keep saying. Using those I can come to a personal opinion on whether I think something is scientific or not.
i.e. arbitrarily dismiss things you don't like, rather than having a rational basis.
There is no set of criteria you can point to that classifies the FE model as unscientific and the Bohr model as scientific, because you are not using a set of criteria to distinguish them, instead you are just arbitrarily deciding that the FE model is not scientific.
You might pretend that it is rational, but when you leave the criteria as vague allowing you to dismiss what you want and accept what you want it ceases to be rational, it loses its rational basis.
Your opinion is no more valid that someone who suggests the FE model is scientific and the Bohr model is not.
And if it is just your opinion, why kick up such a fuss about it?
Physically impossible in the sense of it being correct rather than going against evidence?
Or physically impossible in the sense of a square circle, something which couldn't exist in any universe?
If the former again the Bohr model is excluded.
If the latter, the FE is not.
The latter, because a flat sphere is very much like a square circle.
Good thing the FE models do not involve a flat sphere, so it doesn't exclude the FE at all.
But to your point about, "ground up" - Is that really a requirement for a scientific model?
I don’t think a scientific model of a system can fundamentally be built on the alternative model you are proposing to replace. (That isn’t actually Walter’s aim of course, so it’s fine for him to do this). It can be built on other things you want to incorporate into the new model.
Sure you can, especially if you are simplifying the model.
This process is bi-directional. You can take a RE model, and map it to a FE model, and you can do the opposite, taking a FE model with bendy light, and straightening the light out to make a RE model.
Likewise, you can start with a GC model, and perform some math to produce a HC model. You don't need to start entirely from scratch.
Likewise, look at Bohr. It was built upon the Rutherford model, with the intent to replace it. The Rutherford model was built upon prior models as well.
Taking a model and building upon it to produce a better model is a common part of science.