JM> there are times
JM> when _technical_ decisions have significant impact on public policy
JM> concerns. I believe that neither the IETF nor the public are well
JM> served by ignoring (or being unaware of) those potential impacts.
1. it is hard to imagine that the minimal formatting requirements in
force for ietf documents pose a meaningful barrier to serious input of
any kind.
2. whether, and when, the ietf should participate in public policy
debates is, itself, a matter of debate. possibly even a worthy one.
JM> Can the requirements be satisfied using MS Word and the multistep
JM> production/post-processing procedures? Absolutely. There is even
JM> evidence that some lawyers can do it. But it is not "easy" to
JM> non-techies who seldom work within the standards world.
1. c.f., your statement above about acquiring some of the appearance of a
natural inhabitant, to blend into the environment.
2. anyone who thinks the ietf formatting requirements are not easy has
not had to deal with very interesting formatting requirements.
d/
--
Dave Crocker <mailto:dcrocker(_at_)brandenburg(_dot_)com>
Brandenburg InternetWorking <http://www.brandenburg.com>
Sunnyvale, CA USA <tel:+1.408.246.8253>, <fax:+1.866.358.5301>