[CQ-Contest] Logging software prefs, was Spam Alert: Re: OKDX contest

[Michael Coslo]

I thought I'd take this to a topic I haven't seen here before.

Over time, I have found that users are passionate - to say the least -  
about the software they use for contesting. In truth, different  
software performs differently for different functions, and some work  
great for some contests, and not others.

There is another effect, that I never see mentioned, and that is the  
"Version effect". This is where s software has been rewritten to fix  
an earlier problem, say an incorrect summary calculation. But a lot of  
users still use an older version of the software. So now, there are  
multiple issues, even from one logging program.

So my question is, why are so many users so attached to their logging  
software? I've been asked to change my test in order to have some  
logging programs score it correctly - and when I pointed out that  
every one else would have to change their software if I changed the  
contest to accommodate, the response was an equivalent "so what?" I  
then realized that in some respects, we're sitting at the corner gas  
station, arguing about "Ferds and Chivvys".

Point is, should we not use the tool best suited for the job? I use  
several logging programs, the choice being based on whatever does the  
best at what I'm doing at the moment.

-73 de Mike N3LI -