ORIGINAL: Silent-AV8R
Beyond that, it appears that the consensus in the pattern community is that change is bad and change should only be made if it decreases costs or increases participation. There should be some consideration to doing things that seem logical, and weighing one type of plane without fuel and the other ready to fly makes no logical sense. There is also a clear precedent in FAI to make a change to address that logical inconsistency. The bottom line is that rules should make sense and be rooted in some kind of logic.
A consensus of one, perhaps. It does go without saying that changes should increase participation. And cost is a factor. Your argument about electric vs glow is flawed. The rule was written when electrics were not yet a viable alternative. The pattern community and the contest board are looking at rules, but have yet to reach a consensus. Just because YOU do not understand a rule, or because YOU cannot see the logic does not mean there is none.
I'm not sure what direction we will take; but, I do know that the eventual consensus will include more than one mans opinion. As it should. This is a forum for discussion, but rather than taking potshots at the rulesmakers of the sport, why not get involved with the process and do something positive? The NSRCA here in the States is the pattern SIG within the AMA.... put your efforts there.
Brian Clemmons