a few quick points (due to time and bandwidth constraints): - registries are NOT= car companies, think of the differences in barriers to entry; - if registries are "competing -- hard" they must be doing it with some of their other customers. not this one. you and I should have a long talk about this one day. they have become better suppliers but they are miles from good suppliers; - I don't think ALL changes need be approved, I tried to frame that in my post (the nature of the change need flow directly from the monopoly). more importantly, I take it you have not worked with many cc's. they have varying, but completely different hurdles to face when making changes. most importantly, they answer to a different master. the countries they are from. each with a different structure. as it should be. I am now officially on vacation (using the last packets from the ICANN network before it is torn down) so next packets may be sparse. pile on me and I will try and dig myself out when possible :-).