It doesn't. You already have a rat infestation issue. This doesn't cause it or further it. You think that little handful of kibble compares to the free calories available in an entire dumpster full of chicago deep dish pizza scrap that sits out in the open air day in day out?

My assumption is that it exacerbates it, by keeping the primary predator of rats well fed. Are you saying that cats have no impact on rat populations?

Their play drive is high enough that they will hunt for sport even if well fed otherwise.

I know that one. It’s the good ol’ tolerance formula:

Tolerance(A) = { 100% if A ≠ B; 0% if A → B }

Sprinkle on anything to suit your taste.

This does seem like an unfortunate truth of life, I always want to loan friends money, but can't afford to if they keep not paying me back :/

I also want to put a bird feeder outside a window we have, but I know that'll mean bird poop on a walkway that other people use

Same with some technology, I want to use X because it seems better but I know that'll mean it won't get the same support as Y so we have to use Y