You keep saying I said or implied things I either didn't say or did not imply. I did not say all things were futile. I said, as a repeat, that the decisions and plans are in the hands of those that don't give two hoots about what is written on this forum. The potential to improve or get better or however one wants to qualify it is there. It is not futile for the powers that be to politic and negotiate Marshall to something "better". What is futile is any relevance to that process and this thread. There is quite a difference.
I would never say this is a waste of anyone's time. This is theater. It's not really about changing anything; it is entertainment.....and it's free, to boot.
Here's what "matters" to me. I love my alma mater. I love the Herd. I want them to win no matter where we end up. I want the powers that be to get us to the best we can get to. I don't mistake what impact I can have on where we are by what I say on this forum or anywhere else.
As you said, in the scheme of things, this is not very important.
You attempt to zoom in to this singular thread and/or this singular forum... and you're right to say that the decision-makers are highly, highly unlikely to access either, and to do the V8 thing, and say, "What a great idea! Let's jump on it!"
But then, in zooming-in, you are guilty in the assumption that that's what I'm after by pursuing the topic.
I'll give it another try... ever been part of a team at your place of employment that is charged with improving a process?... one of the first things you do is... what... brainstorm?... you hash out the problem at hand... brainstorm possible solutions with as little judgment as possible... then, you determine the criteria by which you'll judge the possible solutions... and after it's all on the table, you debate the options based on the criteria you set, and eventually come to some consensus recommendation for the higher-ups to consider.
This isn't that, but it's about as close to it as one can get.
At some point, you can be sure, I'll be carrying this torch to Banowsky and his staff... that is, unless his playoff idea somehow emerges in the meantime as politically viable, and we see that development reported. But preceding that, it seems prudent to test drive the whole thing, relying on those who actually ascend to an understanding of the concept to help identify the objections and troubleshoot it all... or, even better, to come up with other options that are just-as, if not better than the alliance proposal.
Clearly, the vast majority participating in this thread are not people who "ascend to an understanding of the concept," or even are intellectually honest enough to even admit to the problem. Like you, Grad, they oddly enough participate in a discussion that they claim is an exercise in futility from the git-go.
But then, there has been the occasional person here and on other forums who has been the exception. And it makes it worth wading through all this other BS to gain their thoughts and insights. And moreover, in the process of wading through... you never know how many lurkers never bother to participate in the actual discussion, but who become persuaded that this is a reasonable pursuit.