Wikipedia:Purpose of XFD

It has been sometimes said that the purpose of deletion discussions is to authorize an administrator to hit the Delete button. It was said in a recent Deletion Review that all other outcomes at Articles for Deletion than Delete, including Keep, Merge, and Redirect, are functionally equivalent, because none of them require an administrator to delete the article. That statement about the purpose of AFD is narrowly true and completely misses the point. An editor wrote: 'Deciding between those outcomes [Keep, Merge, Redirect] is a matter for normal, non-admin editing which can take place on the article talk page.'  Deletion discussions are often the best or the only way to reach consensus and to avoid edit wars and move wars. Often normal non-admin editing and discussions do not result in consensus, and then deletion discussion may be the way to reach consensus, and may be needed to avoid edit wars.

Sometimes an article is moved into article space when it is not ready for article space, and is moved back to draft space by a reviewer, and is then moved back to article space by its author. AFD is the proper action at this point, even if neither editor wants the article completely deleted, because the decision between Keep and Draftify is decided by AFD.

Sometimes an article is cut down to a redirect because it is thought not to be individual notable, such as redirecting a song to the album, an album to the band, an actor to a film, or a planned film to the director. The article is then restored, perhaps with a statement to seek consensus before redirecting. Sometimes a redirect edit war ensues. A deletion discussion, which establishes consensus between Keep and Redirect, is the proper resolution.

Sometimes admin action other than Delete may be required after a deletion discussion. If an article is draftified, the closing admin may extended-confirmed-protect the title so that the draft will only be reviewed by experienced reviewers. If an article is redirected, the closing admin may fully protect or extended-confirmed-protect the redirect.

A deletion discussion is a mechanism for establishing consensus.