[CQ-Contest] Assisted Low Power?

[sawyered at earthlink.net]

As the only station to get "beat" as an unassisted op by an assisted op for first place honors in the 6 "majors" listed for 2006, I believe that I can state my opinion on this subject. 
1) I would like to see a Low Power Assisted category in these contests.  I think that there are quite a few excellent ops with decent stations who would be motivated to go "all out" where they are less likely to today.  Either because they are de-motivated to go up against the high power guys (who wouldn't be) or they don't feel confident enough of their station and/or skills to go unassisted.
2) I believe that the advantage of assisted vs. un-assisted is strongest when the unassisted ops are having difficulty running and are forced to S & P exclusively for a larger portion of the contest.  At that point, the effeciency of packet spots is an edge.  As the sunspots get stronger in the coming years, this advantage will be less noticable and only a very skilled assisted op who recognizes that packet or not, they better be running on radio 1 over 50% of the time will be competitive.  While there is no requirement that an op who claims assisted spend the majority of the time focusing on spots, most seem to, and hence will never beat the running op (assisted or unassisted).  Therefore, it is no surprise that a great assisted op beat me at the bottom of the sunspot cycle in CQ WW.  To stay on top as the sunspots rise, the winning assisted op will have to ignore the fact they are assisted for probably half the contest and run, run, run.  Doable? Absolutely, I welcome the challenge.  
3) I think the separate categories make sense to allow purists like me to enjoy the game they love and to allow those ops that love assisted to hone their different skills of balance between run, spots, and S & P among themselves.  People, doing what they love to do, competing on the same rules of the game. 

Move whereever you want, build whatever antennas you want, get the best receivers in the world, and become as skilled as you can.  Just use the same power level and don't get spotting help from anyone else if you are unassisted or self-spot if you are assisted.

How much simpler can it be.

Ed N1UR