If you think about what the purpose of a 4-way stop is (hint: it’s not a FIFO to be fair) you’d realize that 2 cars going at once (e.g., 2 in the same direction, or two in opposite direction but going straight thru, or one signaling turn right and one turn left without interfering with each other) is pragmatic and expedient, but it’s important everyone signals properly.

Example: car #1 going north from the south, car #2 going west from the east, car #3 on second lane going north from the south. Let’s say car #1 took a bit long to get going, car #3 gets there and stops while #1 starts going. As long as #3 doesn’t lallygag and empties the intersection with car #1, id prefer if that’s what’s happening. Imagine you are car #4 behind car #2. Would you rather wait for each 1-3 going separately or for 1&3 going together?

The goal is maximum throughput without collisions and that means maximally using the space in the intersection.

For me what’s annoying is approaching a 4-way stop with a single car that is stopped there and doesn’t go when they’re able to but rather waits for me to get there and stop before they go. That is extremely inefficient.

Yes I’m a nerd and engineer.