[PaQSO] ENOUGH Already!

[K3YD at aol.com]

The sponsor of PAQP has announced some rule changes for 2006 allowing for 
digital modes QSOs.  Some participants are overjoyed: some are outraged!  And now 
more than a few folks are proposing additional changes, mostly in scoring.

I say ENOUGH!  Let's run the 2006 contest as NARC proposes and see what 
happens.  I don't expect digital modes to have much of a score impact or to attract 
many participants--but I might be wrong.  We won't know till we try, will we? 
 

We've managed to have a LOT of fun, for many years with the 1-1.5-2 point QSO 
values.  A half decent CW op can do very well at these point values.  The 
question, in my mind, is the worth of a digital QSO?  We won't really know till 
we see the level of digital mode activity and the results of those ops who 
include a significant digital mode effort in their activity.  After we see the 
2006 contest result and the impact--if any--of the inclusion of digital modes 
we'll all be in a better position to gripe or praise and to make some intelligent 
comments.    

If you can't abide the rules changes, without really experiencing the impact, 
just sponsor your own contest and find out how much fun THAT is!

I plan to operate the '06-PAQP and I hope to hear all of you in next year's 
test.

73,  Blair k3yd
(Flame shield up)