> for researchers to focus on lower-quality compression specifically
JPEG-XL already does this because it uses VarDCT (Variable-size Discrete Cosine Transform) aka adaptive block sizes (2×2 up to 256×256). Large smooth areas use huge blocks and fine detail uses small blocks to preserve detail. JXL spends bits where your eyes care most instead of evenly across the image. It also has many techniques it uses to really focus on keeping edges sharp.
JPEG-XL already does this because it uses VarDCT (Variable-size Discrete Cosine Transform) aka adaptive block sizes (2×2 up to 256×256). Large smooth areas use huge blocks and fine detail uses small blocks to preserve detail. JXL spends bits where your eyes care most instead of evenly across the image. It also has many techniques it uses to really focus on keeping edges sharp.