[CQ-Contest] ARRLDX Single Operator Records have been Eliminated!

[kq2m at kq2m.com]

Last week I was noticed that my single band ARRLDX contest records and 
those of my fellow contesters had been "disappeared", and I suspected 
that they were eliminated because now self-spotting was allowed and the 
LOW Power maximum was reduced from 150 to 100 watts.

The rationalizations I saw coming out of the ARRL are, IMO, pure BUNK.  
Old single band records should persist until or unless they are broken, 
not because of some rule change effectively putting SO into the Assisted 
Class because of self-spotting, or a 2 db drop in power for LOW power 
ops.  "Old" records were not eliminated after UBN log-checking started 
which it tougher to set new records than the previous records.  I am not 
aware of any practical reason that necessitates the elimination of 
existing single op NON-Assisted records and certainly NOT for SO HIGH 
power!

In fact, Mark, N5OT states in his excellent write-up that "It's notable 
that none of the new category records surpassed any of these now-retired 
records".  That's PRECISELY my point.  It is BIZARRE that a lower score 
is now considered by the ARRL to be a "new record" merely because these 
LOWER scores were made after 2021.  What kind of a "record" is that?

This action by the ARRL completely disrespects the ops and 
station-owners of stations where all of those records were set and the 
effort and strategy required to set them!

I have never seen pro sports or the Olympics eliminate records just 
because rules have been changed, there are new technological 
advancements, the run-time of the event has been extended, or for any 
other reason.  Old records that continue to exist and stand the test 
time despite more advantaged conditions now, become the stuff of 
legends, NOT stuff to be removed.

The ARRL should restore the old records precisely because they ARE the 
records and they should be updated only if and when they are 
legitimately beaten under the "new" rules and NOT until then.

73

Bob, KQ2M