[CQ-Contest] AO8HQ vs DA0HQ - ARRL did the worse in two decisions

[Zoli Pitman HA1AG]

Jose et al,

I welcome ARRL's very wise decisions about the DL vs EA dispute as well 
as about ending the madness called HQ competition.

First, everybody know what the DLs were doing to win. period. However, 
in most cases it was neither a breach of the rules in pure legal terms 
nor could be proved. In addition it was/would have been quite a 
diplomatic challenge for a national society to judge over the dispute of 
two other national societies. In my opinion IARU itself could have done 
it, however on that level it would have become a political decision 
rather than objectively evaluating technicalities like contest operation.

However I could not sympathize with the Spanish either who tried to 
benefit of having a few islas right next to the EU continent border 
giving them 4.99 points/qso average.

Second, HQ has developed to a pissing contest over the last decades. It 
made traditional competition meaningless and polluted the bands with 
monster HQs leaving no room for others. Next to that it has spiraled out 
of control - just look at the spotting beacons, the pre-contest 
propaganda etc.

Finally, I don't think as an adjucator only, ARRL might have deleted the 
HQ class from the IARU rules but they certainly had the right not the 
evaluate it - hopefully - rendering it meaningless.

In summary, I applaude NN1N for this.

73, zoli ha1ag