[CQ-Contest] Why the 10 min rule anyway?

[David Pruett]

KI9A at aol.com wrote:
> Excuse my ignorance, and, not condoning the recent DQ's.  
>  
> But, what is the idea behind the 10 min rule for M/S, anyway?  It's  still 
> a single transmitter, just multiple operators.  What makes this any  
> different than a S/O making band changes?
>  
> Just wondering.  Seems to me like a really silly rule...that's why I  need 
> a decent explanation of why.
>  
> 73- Chuck KI9A
>   
Chuck,

The answer is pretty simple.  To prevent a multi-transmitter station 
from using it's full capabilities to enter a category where the number 
of transmitters in simultaenous use is limited (multi-1 or multi-2).

The ten-minute rule takes away most of the advantage of having multiple 
simultaneous transmitters while giving the contest sponsors a tangible 
way to enforce the rules of the catagory in an objective, measurable way.

Otherwise, what's to keep a multi-multi station from entering as 
multi-single?

Dave/K8CC