**Background:** It's common to use `scalar_tensor()` in the input to `where()` to convert any scalars present to compatible tensors with matching options, *including layout*. This shows up in various places, notably including derivative formulas ([example](78491d6afc/tools/autograd/derivatives.yaml (L432-L434))). It causes problems for NJTs because they have `layout=torch.jagged` and it never makes sense to create a scalar tensor with this layout. Some of the breakage only seems to happen in CI for reasons I don't fully understand (see the revert of #140736 due to softshrink's derivative formula).
**This PR:**
* Allows non-contiguous NJT inputs to `where()` + adds tests for this
* Handles scalar tensor / dense tensor inputs for `condition` / `other` + adds tests for this
* Uses limited `broadcast_tensors()` / `broadcast_to()` support
* Improves `expand()` to work on non-contig NJTs
* Changes `scalar_tensor()` to use `torch.strided` instead of `torch.jagged` in both eager and torch.compile (i.e. meta registration)
* Changes backward formulas for `sinc`, `pow`, `special.i1`, and `special.i1e` to uses `scalar_tensor()` instead of e.g. `zeros({})`
**Alternative approach:** Update all problematic usages of `scalar_tensor()` to avoid ever passing `layout=torch.jagged`. This is an extensive change and includes `torch.where()` logic, a bunch of derivative formulas, and likely other places not yet discovered.
Pull Request resolved: https://github.com/pytorch/pytorch/pull/141500
Approved by: https://github.com/malfet, https://github.com/cpuhrsch, https://github.com/soulitzer
8ba555ec8a