Can parallel validation side-step the slow block issue?

It is pointed out that there's an underlying assumption in some discussions that all blocks of equal height possess the same workload. However, this is only guaranteed when blocks share the same parent. The idea of concurrent validation for competing blocks is moot unless they fulfill the criterion of having identical workloads. The practicality of such scenarios remains uncertain, although it is suggested that it might not be as common as one would hope.

Further exploration into the matter reveals concerns regarding the speed of block validation. Slow validation processes are likely to have a substantial negative impact on the efficiency of block relay across the network. This concern is not just theoretical; it has been supported by preliminary experiments conducted on Warnet, which demonstrate the direct relationship between validation times and block propagation speeds. Specifically, for blocks containing transactions that weren't previously announced, the propagation delay across nodes can be directly attributed to the product of validation times and the number of nodes along the shortest path from the source to the destination. This insight underscores the significance of optimizing validation mechanisms to enhance the overall performance and reliability of blockchain networks.