On Jan 8, 2:45*pm, wrote:

I asked in my initial post "How, with the proposed rule change, is the
pilot expected to know whether the selected start cylinder exit point
will result in a devalued first leg distance?"

and part of your reply was

However, nothing terrible happens to you if you start outside of the
"front half." No penalties, no invalid starts, nothing. You just don't
get full credit for distance.

I'm surprised the RC thinks that not getting full credit for distance
flown is of no consequence. In the past pilots have worked thermals
away from the optimum start point and then lost altitude to exit at
the optimum start point just so they are not timed on a mile or less
that didn't earn any score.

How is this different?

I see no reason why a pilot that chooses to exit from the back of the
cylinder cannot work any gaggle on route to the first turnpoint. Why
does joining a gaggle in the vicinity of the start have a higher risk
than joining one on course?

I just don't see that the proposed rule, with its hidden complexity,
is justified. Unsafe flying has always been subject to a severe
penalty and anyone flying dangerously in, or above, the start cylinder
is subject to that rule.

Andy