[Elecraft] Use of Abbreviations (OT?)

[We5f at aol.com]

>>On Sunday 12 June 2005 06:14 pm, Ian Stirling G4ICV, AB2GR wrote:
>   I have seen this only on this Elecraft list.
> It's not something that I know and probably
> Modesty and Willie didn't.
>  What does '72' mean?

A qrp'er saying 73's
(confusing, ain't it?)
Don't know how it started but if someone signs 72's they are a qrp station 
saying........ yep, 73's.. (from roncasa at verizon.net)<<


I don't think this is OT, but it may be.  However, I think it will be of 
sufficient interest to post.

I don't wish to be a horse's patootey, but this is a pet peeve of mine.  The 
term "73" translates to "best regards", so expressing it as "73's" or 
"seventy-thirds" is inappropriate.  That would translate to "best regardses".

Also, I'm still searching for a definitive answer to the question of whether 
it is appropriate to use Q-signals in phone transmissions.  For example, is it 
really appropriate to say "QRZ? this is K5XXX".  Or would it be correct to 
say "Who is calling me, this is K5XXX"?  Of course, using a Q-signal by 
reference would be appropriate, such as "The QRN level is very high today".  Or is it?

And it seems silly to me to say "HI, HI" instead of just laughing.  Should 
this term be used on phone?

Everyone seems to have an opinion on these questions, but are there 
definitive answers?

73, Jim KM5M