TYTY. Very happy you guys enjoyed it.

Make it 3 people!
Here is the exact math...

Simulated 100000 7 Card Stud 8/B Hands (Monte Carlo)
Simulation by Slice - The ev++ Equity Calculator

Player	Equity	Win Hi	Tie Hi	Win Lo	Tie Lo	Scoop	Combos (Natural:Reduced)/Total	Range
1	18.0	18.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	18.0	(268:190)/22100	QQ *; 3h Ts 6d 9d
2	48.3	48.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	48.3	(46:35)/22100	Ac Tc *; 8h Ad 9c Js
3	33.6	33.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	33.6	(1:1)/22100	6s Ah Kc; As 8s 2h Jc

Isn't it possible though that Seat 1 got stubborn, not thinking he was getting into a raising war, on 4th street and has a range (basically all baby card combinations that connect with his door card and have at least a gutshot on 5th street) that looks more like this?

Simulated 100000 7 Card Stud 8/B Hands (Monte Carlo)
Simulation by Slice - The ev++ Equity Calculator

Player	Equity	Win Hi	Tie Hi	Win Lo	Tie Lo	Scoop	Combos (Natural:Reduced)/Total	Range
1	20.3	14.2	0.0	26.3	0.0	14.2	(148:65)/22100	2h34, 2h5h, 4h5h, 4h7h *; 3h Ts 6d 9d
2	45.6	49.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	41.3	(46:35)/22100	Ac Tc *; 8h Ad 9c Js
3	34.1	35.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	32.4	(1:1)/22100	6s Ah Kc; As 8s 2h Jc

Noticed I flubbed this . Here is the proper math

Simulated 100000 7 Card Stud 8/B Hands (Monte Carlo)
Simulation by Slice - The ev++ Equity Calculator

Player	Equity	Win Hi	Tie Hi	Win Lo	Tie Lo	Scoop	Combos (Natural:Reduced)/Total	Range
1	23.8	23.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	23.8	(268:190)/22100	QQ *; 3h Ts 6d 9d
2	29.8	29.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	29.8	(46:35)/22100	Ac 3c *; 8h Ad 9c Js
3	46.4	46.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	46.4	(1:1)/22100	6s Ah Kc; As 8s 2h Jc

TY
Yeah, seat 3, now knowing his hand, has a ultra wide call range here on third which is bad. His hand just doesn't play well on later streets here.

And I think I ran a sim in the article where it was clear hero should have a plurality of the EQ here but scooping vs. two hands here hero is a dog. Kinda like the one above. But that's what would a made a bet here so great. I mean, whenever you know you have the most equity in a given hand you should be willing to put as much in as you can, barring wacky bubble or satty situations.

I think whether a check/call, check/fold or value bet is best is very situational. As an example if Seat 1 is capable of folding unless he has Two Pair and/or Seat 3 has a capable enough read on you to raise you when he hits his Two Pair wouldn't the value bet be -EV

Here is your best case where both players just call 100% of the time whether they improve or not
.464 * 2 = .928
.238 * -1 = -.238
.298 * -1 = -.298
.928 - .238 - .298 = .392

Here is the case where Seat 1 folds unless he improves and Seat 3 always calls
.464 * 1 = .464
.238 * -1 = -.238
.298 * -1 = -.298
.464 - .238 - .298 = -.072

Case where Seat 1 folds unless he hits Q's up and Seat 3 raises with Aces Up and you call (even if you don't call its still slight -EV)
.238 * -1 = -.238
.464 * 1 = .464
.298 * -2 = -.596
.464 - .238 - .596 = -.37


Also you have put Seat 1 on a VERY exact range. If you include some cases where he is drawing low with a straight draw (like I postulated above) and is almost sure to fold unless he has you scooped or makes his low then your value bet has even worse EV. I personally think you have to factor in this range at least *some* of the time. There is no way you can pin this player to exactly JJ-KK (actually a competent player would never play these hands like that and would be more likely to have caught some sort of high/low draw on 5th)

Looking at it I think its still an extremely thin value bet and derives its value from you having the greatest equity going to 7th street and the expectation that Seat 1 is going to call as light as QQ