Anthony D. B. has the right heart about all of this....Preserve the game and see it through a child's eyes (we of the original era, or close to it) will be pushing daisys someday and there will be those who will come after us, and hopefully after them. Make the "official" standard rules simple and easy for all (regardless of age, income, or customization ability) to compete equally. What comews out of the box is what comes out of the box.

For those who have been customizing for years and are used to thier "pumped-up" players may find it challenging to play against my 11 year old with standard equipment right out of the box (he may just have fun also).

There is plenty of latitude for customizing, boiling (whatever that is), extra weights, roller skates if you so desire, etc. in the friendly "backyard" game between coaches. But if the game is to count towards a compitition or league...then it should be "as in the box"...after all, is'nt preserving the game what the league is all about in the first place?

Just my thoughts...but then, who am I?
hicy