24-Hr Single-Op Assisted

[K2MM at MasPar.COM]

Let me put the "bottom line" up-front:  Consider making the Single-Op
ASSISTED category a 24-hour event.  Do not limit actual operating time,
but let the op carve out a contiguous 24-hour segment for scoring.  The
remaining contacts become part of the op's check log, just as non-
primary-band contacts currently do in a single-band submission.

Personally, I do not feel that the existing arrangements need changing.
But I offer the above suggestion/rumination in the hope that it is a
constructive contribution.  In a previous posting, I had observed that
the single-band categories might serve the needs of those unable to put
in the full 48 hours.  Subsequent comments suggest to me that this idea
has resonated among a large number of ops.  But recent postings indicate
more interest in an all-band part-time single-op category, and some have
given good reasons why single-band may not be a suitable alternative.

I made the posting mainly because I had some observations that I had not
yet seen expressed.  But I was also prompted by Hans/K0HB's remark that
almost all of the "OK as is" opinions had come from the current crop of
single-op big guns.  Having not done full-time single-op for quite a few
years, thus not having a vested interest, I read it as an invitation.

My posting was immediately followed by one from Bill/KM9P suggesting
that I wasn't entitled to express an opinion:

> If you are worried about the present single-op category being diluted
> by the 24 hour category, I say your call better be KQ2M, W9RE, NA8V,
> K1AR, K1CC, K1TO, or any other that consistantly enters the single op
> category.

Looking at Bill's score, I noticed that he was a guest op at N4RJ, and
that he participated in the single-op assisted category.  This led me to
wonder about SOA's suitability as a 24-hour category.  After all, it's
already a half-step towards multi-op, and changing SOA takes nothing
away from the truly serious single-op individualists.

I suspect many of us have ambivalent feelings about the proliferation of
entry categories.  The increase in activity caused thereby is certainly
appreciated.  But, "Oh no! Not another one!" is an understandably common
reaction to any proposal to add more categories.  This lies behind my
previous observation about the single-band option and behind my current
speculation about adapting the SOA category.

Thanks again for reading, and GL y'all in WPX!  --John/K2MM