[UK-CONTEST] IOTA -" nul points" for Fixed-to-Fixed, pse!

[Nigel G3TXF]

Hello UK Contesters,

I know that this is an old chestnut. Nevertheless, at the
risk of multiple groans all round, I'd like to pick up on a
point mentioned in Jim MM0BQI's interesting write-up on his
latest Summer Isles jaunt for the IOTA Contest. 

Put simply, why on earth are there ANY points for Non-Island
to Non-Island QSOs in the IOTA Contest? If I'm in the ARRL
Contest, I don't get points for working anyone except W/VE.
If I'm in the SAC-Contest or the REF Contest, the same
principle applies. 

The IOTA Contest is for "Islands", and as such QSOs not
involving an Island should be ZERO points. Points should
only be available for either Non-Island to Island or Island
to Island, but not Non-Island to Non-Island. If an Island is
not involved somewhere in the QSO, then the QSO should
really be worthless within the context of the IOTA Contest.

Historically, I realise there may have been some reasons why
scoring Non-Island to Non-Island QSOs were allowed, but
given the current high level of activity that the RSGB's
IOTA Contest generates, could not the scoring for these
Non-Island to Non-Island QSOs be dropped? The focus of the
contest would then be even more on Islands. As we all know,
there is plenty of both DX-ped and other activity from
Islands, but much of it can at times be drowned out by the
permanently CQing Non-Island Stations who are running
nothing much other than strings of other Non-Island
Stations. 

I'd be interested to hear what the current argument might be
for allowing these Non-Island to Non-Island QSOs to score
anything other than ZERO points?

73 - Nigel G3TXF