Scott,

I see the appropriateness of an answer much the same way as you.

If the tropic was HOW TO LEARN TO PLAY MANDOLIN CORRECTLY then tuning one like a guitar would be a very bad way to reach the stated goal.

On the other hand, if the topic was HOW TO QUICKLY PLAY A MANDOLIN PART INTO A SONG, then doing so might be the simplest and most practical way to meet that goal.

Ultimately, its up to Joe to decide which of the responses got closest to answering the question he intended to ask.