jQuery object normalization

jquery-element.js

function element(value, context) {
	var ret = $([]); // $(context) ?

	if (value.jquery) {
		ret = value;
	} else if (value == 'parent') {
		ret = $(context).parent();
	} else if (value == 'clone') {
		ret = $(context).clone().removeAttr('id');
	} else if (value == 'window') {
		ret = $(context).window(); // requires .window() plugin
	} else if (value.nodeType || typeof value == 'string' || $.isArray(value)) {
		ret = $(value, context);
	} else if ($.isFunction(value)) {
		ret = value(context);
	}

	return ret;
}

Why not more directly? Example:

function .. {
if(value.jquery) return value;
else if(value === 'parent') return $(context).parent();
else if(value === 'clone') return $(context).clone().removeAttr('id');
else if(value === 'window') return $(context).window();
else ...
return $([]);
}

Why not?

yeah... on this code, "ret" store a value that is returned on line 18... then, why not return this directly, without store in a variable?
Example: http://jsfiddle.net/XnuuY/

Don't bother optimizing before testing, the code doesn't work anyway.

FLASH CAGE!

@jzaefferer haha, I just comment. I don't tried the code, for me are ok. :(