Designing and layout RF circuits for bands 15m & up get to be more of an Art that a Science. So there is the difficulty factor. And, as someone has already mentioned economic supply & demand is influenced by the Solar Cycle. I think multiband rigs are a good approach to this. Lots of common ciruity IF, AF, PS, TR Sw... drives the cost per band down and utility of the rig up. I'll be using my K2 on or below 20M long after the current cycle declings. And it only cost me abt ~$70 per band.

As for sprints & such, it really would violate the spirit of the gentlemans agreement that says, no contesting on the WARC bands. Think about this year's the first FOX hunt. That would have been noticed! Then maybe someone else would say "hey let's have a sprint there"...etc., etc.... Soon it would be out of hand. Who's to say what a contest is or is not. I think it best to leave thing pure, the way they are. Then there is a place for everything and every thing in its place.

Rod, N0RC