I realize that the change is described as "final", but I'll offer a thought
(since I've managed to be quiet so far).
First, it should be noted that I'm probably not going to be in the running for
a WRTC seat. Accordingly, I don't feel personally affected by the selection
rules. I'll play in contests as my schedule permits, picking classes based on
my interests (and rules), without WRTC qualification influencing my decisions.
These comments are made as someone enjoying the prospect of watching the
qualification race.
While I mostly agree with the notion that Unassisted and Assisted are
sufficiently different that they shouldn't be combined for competition purposes
(although I still wonder how much of a difference it makes among the best of
the best), one of the most intriguing things about the qualification rules as
originally proposed was that they sort of removed the stigma associated with
assistance.
Giving assisted scores 0.9 weight undoes that.
I can see that there is some sense to the idea that because WRTC teams play
unassisted, unassisted operating should be emphasized in qualification, there
are other elements of WRTC that don't translate to the qualifying events:
they're M/2 stations, they will probably be using special pileup-generating
callsigns, etc.
The teams that are most successful at WRTC will be those that can work the most
stations with the most accuracy... and I'm not sure that assisted/unassisted
status really matters.
If there is still any possibility of reconsideration, please think about
revising the rules such that:
+ assisted scores get 1.0 weight; but
+ assisted entrants are compared against the highest single operator (assisted
or not) score
If the committee feels a need to nudge potential WRTC entrants to demonstrate
their skills unassisted, it might be better to simply limit the number of
assisted scores that can be used for qualification ... or to require that WRTC
candidates submit some minimum number of single op low power unassisted scores
as part of their application, as they are the closest analogues to WRTC
conditions, assuming the committee continues with the "field day style" WRTC.
Adopting one or both of those changes would also open the door to some
fascinating strategy decisions for us mere mortals to observe from the
sidelines.
73
--
Michael Adams | N1EN | mda@n1en.org
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