I agree that on the world market, a 5500g rule would probably lead to advancement IF the rule stayed the same with a different weight.  Seeing how the rule is listed as "weighed with fuel", I don't think that an extra 200-300g is going to make a huge surge in advancement of airframes.  Electric guys get to carry bigger batteries if that passed which means they get to stay in the air more than 8 minutes.  Maybe they'll get in 1 1/2 - 2 rounds per flight depending on class but not even that in FAI.<div>
</div><div>I also think this is like professional sports too.  We complain about the high salaries that players make and we complain that a hot dog and drink costs $11.00 at the ball park.  Well, if you don't like it, don't pay the ticket prices to support them and don't buy that $9.00 hot dog.  We saw it happen last year with a good manufacturer who was charging $3200+ for their models.  People stopped buying them and now that same company is producing that same $3200 airframe for $2000. </div><div>
</div><div>I fought for the increase here in America because manufacturers aren't going to cater to AMA pattern and produce planes solely for that market.  They'd loose the rest of the world market if that happened.  For FAI, I think there are pros and cons to doing this but what is for certain in my opinion is that there needs to be a leveling of the field between glow and electric as far as weighing goes.  If the weigh with fuel passes, I don't see enough weight room for the market to change drastically.</div>