You are totally right about peer review being misunderstood as replication. That's why preprints have gained so much traction lately. Things have become so complex that sometimes peer review is only good enough to filter results that are obviously wrong.
But replicating a proof or a complex experiment is way beyond what reviewers can accomplish.
Another problem with peer review, especially in experimental fields, are malicious reviewers. Big PIs typically gain control of a particular subfield by publishing something first, then getting lots of papers to review and blocking said papers and/or stealing good ideas from them.
But replicating a proof or a complex experiment is way beyond what reviewers can accomplish.
Another problem with peer review, especially in experimental fields, are malicious reviewers. Big PIs typically gain control of a particular subfield by publishing something first, then getting lots of papers to review and blocking said papers and/or stealing good ideas from them.