Hi Paul, Chuck, Doc and Everyone:
I just returned from the hospital after some much needed maintenance work and I am surprised (and pleased) that there is so much passion demonstrated during my absence!

I think this is great for the RWFF game and our Forum.
First of all, I think the addition of the cruising parameter (chosen by the outing makers) will add to the game as well as fixing a long time bug. Chuck is correct in saying that maybe this slight imperfection built into our game did add a lot to its charm and character. Sometimes we've learned to live with, and to love a game because of all the little quirks. (kind of like most Italian cars) Doc is also correct to say that while this can be fixed, why not? I think both points are equally valid.
When I started to read this post in it's sequence I never felt Paul would issue a "bug fix" that would render all the previous outings obsolete. It is just not Paul's way of doing things. After reading further I saw that Paul was going to add a parameter to fix the cruising bug, and it will be up to the outing makers to elect whether to apply it or not I was relieved. That would be the perfect solution for everyone. Actually right now the outing maker can elect for the fish
not to cruise at all by not setting the cruise and cruise speed parameters which are not mandatory. This is particularly useful if we want to keep the target fish in a definite feeding lane like those we would find in a real trout stream. So the choice rests with the outing maker and not the software.
Personally I think people would like a certain degree of difficulty (and luck) built into their "Challenges" as it is not at all predictable. But on the other hand, one might have to hit the exit button after half an hour of non action and many of us have come to realize that this is part of a RWFF Challenge, and may blame our own bad luck, or the Solunar phase for it.
I think the availability of the added cruise parameter would be the perfect solution for everyone. Those who would like to have fish returning could have it, and those who prefer some vanishing fish could have it as well. In real life fishing a pool, a usually productive eddy, or a likely feeding spot could go completely dead for inexplicable reasons and this is a very real part of fishing and we have all experienced it. With the new parameter the outing creator can chose the way he prefers to set up his outing and this is just fine.
I think Doc has many interesting ideas and they may result in some interesting outings for all of us to try. New ideas are always the life blood for any kind of software development and we are happy to have them, and to try them out. That is as long as we respect the integrity of the original software and only make changes from within it.
Those are just my humble opinions re this issue and I hope you will find them useful.
Regards,
Stanley