have we contested too long?

[P.VASILION]

Hi All, 

When I saw the posts toying with the idea to reduce the contest period
to 24 hours or less I was extremely opposed. I felt that a 48 hour contest
was better. Then came ARRL DX SSB. It struck me at about 2 O'clock Sunday
when our QSO rates began to look like thoes on 80 and 160. Had we contested
so long that we worked everyone? With 2600 Q's in the log by then, multi-
pliers and new stations did not appear again unit

 (until) the last hour of the
contest. Since we have only six over two on 10 - 20 (unlike 5 over 5 or more)
and are running Alpha 87's (1.5KW) we cant compete against the New Englanders
who run illegal power (some approaching 10 Kilowatts) with large arrays. 
How common is this experience? Should be start discussing the ideas of shorter
contest periods? How about power classes? how about handicaps? More info!

Thanks and 73, 

Peter KB2NMV 

op at KN2M m/2