That's exactly my point - for high rep users, those with enough rep to close, this sentiment may be shared. There are plenty (indeed a majority) of lower rep users, though, who could use the practice and points and may be willing to provide an answer. They may not deserve an answer from you, or a Ph.D. physicist, but (IMO) the deserve an answer from someone.

As far as the motivational part, I somewhat agree with you; doing trivial plug and chugs IS demotivational to a Ph.D. Physicist. But there's more than just trained physicists here; and there are plenty of others at a lower level that could use the experience and also deserve some points providing they show their efforts. Instead of closing, downvoting or commenting on a question that shows a lack of effort; why not just move along and leave it for someone that would be willing to provide a comprehensive answer?

Fundamentally, I'm of the mind that every question (even the 'stupid' or 'lack of effort' or 'homework' ones) deserve an answer, and IMO should be answered without derision for the OP. With many of them, it would take just about as much effort to just calculate it or provide the answer than it would to close it, downvote it, or add a comment telling them to show more effort. This is somewhat at odds with most SE communities; and it's unclear now as to whether or not that shift can be made from within the communities or I should look elsewhere.

As to my question, it only became clear gradually that I ought to calculate the gravitational effects myself, as it seemed no other reputable source had. What I was hoping for at the outset was, say, a name for said alignment if it had one that I could search for to find all the information I was looking for. From the extensive searching and in writing up the question, only then did it become clear that I might as well do it myself.

Thank you for your response. I never meant to imply that all answers are lacking calculation or effort; indeed I think a vast majority are excellent answers, with plenty of effort while simultaneously teaching the OP, which is why I stay in the SE communities I am a part of. My problem isn't with the answers; it's with the question editing, closing, and comments that offer no additional value (in my opinion) and are also unwelcoming (in my opinion). I'm not dismissing any earnest contributions; I am dismissing trite comments and things that are not answering the question (like closing it).

It was, and is, about a specific physical phenomenon, which may have had a certain name I was unaware of through searching, and/or had a full treatment on elsewhere on the web, including calculations, frequency, possibility, and resulting effects. Ultimately this is what I'm after, and only did the math after the inability to find additional information on something that should have additional information already in existence.

If it is the case that these questions are "not welcome" here, and there is a general unwillingness to do simple calculations (which I don't think there is on a whole, I think it's a small subset of users), is anyone aware of a more welcoming community that involves answering ALL questions, even if that may include some trivial computation?