RandomChoice output isn't packed

Question

Why isn't the output of RandomChoice a packed array? For instance:

RandomChoice[{.5, .2, .3} -> {1, 2, 3}, 10]
Developer`PackedArrayQ @ %

{1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3}

False

Answer 1

In order for RandomChoice to produce a packed array, the RHS of the rule needs to be packed:

pQ = Developer`PackedArrayQ;
pack = Developer`ToPackedArray;

pQ @ RandomChoice[pack[{.5, .2, .3}] -> pack[{1, 2, 3}], 10]
pQ @ RandomChoice[pack[{.5, .2, .3}] -> {1, 2, 3}, 10]
pQ @ RandomChoice[{.5, .2, .3} -> pack[{1, 2, 3}], 10]

True

False

True