both quotes were made, both are accurate
the fact a lot of people don't understand doesn't make either untrue
for instance, gravity works whether you understand or not.
likewise, Internet things work because you are in league with the
underlying physics. if you aren't, no amount of supplication will help you
because
"Nature neither seeks nor abides your opinion."
if jamal's assertion about the new formulation of "the organization
formerly known as the IETF" is correct, it won't matter because it
will be obviously true. if he is wrong, it won't matter that way
either because of irrelevance.
and keep repeating - there is nothing sacred about the IETF.
the IETF has no patent on how it sometimes gets things done.
if you like the approach, please feel free to use it when and
where ever you feel so inspired. you don't need the IETF's
permission to innovate and you certainly aren't required to
do it in any particular fashion.
the IETF does have a culture and tradition which is well-established
and like many other such groups, some of us have little patience with
mob-based cultural imperialism, especially when clothed as
"democratic processes".
as for sitting on pin-points, after mastering discussions
about angels and pin-heads, some of us have moved on to
even greater challenges.
cheers,
-mo