[Mldxcc] I broke my own rule!

[Rick WA6NHC]

I was never a fan of any award that you must pay for just to participate 
and I'm not interested in a urinary distance or volume contest.  This 
includes DXCC.  I compete in DX with one station, ME.  Every contact on 
any band, was made with MY equipment, MY antennas, the best I had at 
that moment and if it wasn't state of the art or it was minimalist, 
that's what it was.  (My move to ID is in part to have space to put up 
real antennas again, minimal sucks.)

Because of my expected move and expected scarcity of card checkers 
there, I had my QSL cards checked by an ARRL checker (W6SR, thank you), 
which requires applying for DXCC to put them into the system (only 13 
band slots not already in LOTW, a few are not common). They were almost 
all old, '78 and '88, while one was new (EF6 from 2014 that never 
uploaded to LOTW).

Since I stuck my toe in the water (spent $$), I dove all in.  The result 
is that I'll get 7 certificates on this application, Mixed, CW, Phone 
DXCC and 4 band certs.  A few more confirmed (already have confirmed in 
Clublog, just waiting for the DX to upload to LOTW) and I'll get 5BDXCC too.

It doesn't change my philosophy that I compete against me and it wasn't 
free, even for LOTW confirmations.  Yet the ARRL whines that they lose 
money on DXCC.  After they arrive, I'll put these in a file, in the 
cabinet... I have no need for a "Look at ME" wall.

Which is why I never really invested in the program, it's mostly ego and 
status, plus you pay for EACH contact, including stuff already in THEIR 
computer for a piece of paper or a stamp to stick on that paper.  It's 
all about money and implied status.  I also expect another round of 
emails and mailings about "please donate to ... fund, project, program 
or just because"...  drives me nuts.

LOTW is cheaper, but not free and the other costs are fixed, except that 
the app is cheaper online.  With almost 1k LOTW used for the papers, it 
was still <$200.  And the ARRL is broke? WTH, over?

Once it comes through, I still get to pay to add the 13 band slots from 
cards, any new slots on LOTW will cost me too.

If it matters, that places me at #645 currently in the ARRL ladder and 
17th in MLDXCC (247 confirmed).  whoopee  ;-)

Rick nhc