The Robert of Robert’s Stochastic thoughts and I are just about exactly the same age. And like him, I find the use of the phrase “begs the question” to mean anything far from “avoiding grappling with the issue” to clang horribly. (Robert would have it be something like making a lousy argument, thus leaving the question un-answered, which works for me too).
Just mentioning.
If you win on “beg the question” please take on “eke” and “ilk” as well as “enormity.”