Source: Pathfinder 2e Gamemastery Guide
Transcription:
A screenshot of plain text, reading:
The Experience Points gained for besting an NPC depend on how the party overcame them, because XP comes from overcoming a specific challenge. If the PCs defeat the NPC in a non-combat setting of the NPC’s specialty, the party gets XP based on the NPC’s non-combat level. If they just beat the NPC up, the XP would be based on the NPC’s creature level. Quite often, that means 0 XP and failure at the PCs’ objective; for instance, during a baking contest, if the PCs murder the other baker, not only would they be disqualified, but the would likely be apprehended for their crime.
I wonder if the fact that the rule itself is so obvious is why they decided to insert a ridiculous over-the-top comedic example here.
Could be! I personally like these funny examples they throw in occasionally. But yeah, the explanation of most RPG games tends to follow Occam's razor.