Schematic of population-level expectations for desert-dweller occurrence (vertical axis) versus stellar properties (stellar mass M_⋆ and age t in xy-plane), in the lossy Roche-lobe overflow (orange) and HEM (blue) pictures. In contrast to HEM, lossy Roche-lobe overflow predicts that desert dwellers are emplaced over ∼Gyr due to long-term orbital decay from stellar tides. Lossy Roche-lobe overflow also predicts that the sub-Jovian desert should remain empty around stars above the Kraft break due to weaker stellar tides, while HEM should operate indiscriminately. In addition to obliquities, desert dwellers’ occurrence with stellar properties can distinguish their origin channels.