Bob,

Stef has it right in focusing on the compatibility with other 
Smalltalks.  My thought is more about rats (with me one step 
behind them) leaving a sinking ship (the USS Redmond comes to 
mind), but Stef raises an excellent point that there are some really 
nice frameworks that could be helped by some additional 
compatibility.

About the folks trying to dismiss Smalltalk.  Yes I know some; in 
fact I know lots of them.  They don't understand it, and are afraid of 
it.  The underscore snag is the kind of thing that I would much 
rather not have to explain away because it really is a problem.  It's 
hard enough to defend against the truly pointless FUD.

I'm not suggesting that you should be forced to type := against 
your will, but, I think it would be wise to find another way to provide 
the shortcut, such that it would not taint the sources, compiler, 
text editors, and WEB BROWSER<g>.  

Bill


Wilhelm K. Schwab, Ph.D.
University of Florida
Department of Anesthesiology
PO Box 100254
Gainesville, FL 32610-0254

Email: bills at anest4.anest.ufl.edu
Tel: (352) 846-1285
FAX: (352) 392-7029