+ /** \brief convert a stored error to a return code
+ *
+ * Put simply, the entire concept of PendingError() is flawed :/.
+ *
+ * The typical "if (PendingError()) return false;" check that is
+ * strewn throughout the codebase "compounds", making it impossible
+ * for there to be any nuance about the notion of "error" when a
+ * subsystem needs to fail but a higher-level system needs to work.
+ *
+ * However, the codebase is also horribly broken with respect to
+ * errors, as it fails to use C++ exceptions when warranted and
+ * instead relies on this insane indirect error mechanism to check
+ * the failure status of a constructor. What is thereby needed is
+ * a way to clear the PendingError() flag without also discarding
+ * the underlying errors, so we have to convert them to warnings.
+ *
+ * \return \b false
+ */
+ bool ReturnError() APT_COLD;
+