Start Anywhere

Kirk wrote.............
my simple single-cell brain tells me that someone who is
2000' above, and started behind me, is going to have a slight initial
advantage! *

Yo Kirk, The guy that was 2000 feet above you, didn't start behind
you. His clock started when he went through the top of the cylinder
and his 2000 foot climb was 'time on course' for him. He just found
his first thermal earlier than you did. Launching at the back of the
grid can be a problem, but we all take our turn back there, don't we?
I find these little start inequities pale in comparison to one little
bad decision out on course. I like the new start anywhere rule and
have gone out the side in the past because that was the closest route
to the nearest Q. My post saying I didn't think it was worth the
hassle was actually in reference to the older 'start out the top'
rule, not the new 'start anywhere' rule.
My thanks to all the members of the RC, you guys are doing a thankless
job, well.
JJ