Yes, but it seems like benefit of monitoring compost closely - beyond just looking at it and turning it occasionally - seems like it would be low?

Like: is the compost steaming, then it's probably hot and wet enough. Has it been X days since it was turned, better turn it. My naive intuition is that adding value to the compost is quite hard if you're looking at things like aerating a few days earlier, damping a little more, or whatever.

Like I said, I'm ignorant of the details, which often makes for a good learning experience!

Yes that’s valid. For a lot of setups, this approach works really well.

In terms of the big benefit - faster breakdown, better nutrient retention, and fewer emissions. Without extra monitoring, you might still get to a finished product eventually, but analytics can help speed up the process while ensuring the compost is as nutrient-rich and eco-friendly as possible.

This definitely isn’t a one-size fits all solution but many people do find it to be a helpful tool!