Dave Heil wrote:
What are we to make of it--that people generally take the
easiest route to something?

When one is dealing with a governmental licensing
bureau, there is no "easiest route". Only one route
is offered by the rule *makers* for each license
class. The *takers* of the exam cannot be blamed
for the present licensing structure. How can a new
general class ham be considered to be inferior to
an older general class ham when each ham took the
one and only exam available at his particular time
of testing?

Incidentally, mice that take the easiest route
to the cheese hidden in a maze are considered
to be the most intelligent. :-)
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com