On 5 September 2013 15:15, Paul Eggert <eggert@cs.ucla.edu> wrote:
pre-1970 data for the existing set of IDs should remain in the main files
That doesn't follow. If the main files currently have a link, and we want to turn this into a zone only because of pre-1970 data, we want to keep it a link in the main file, so that we can support existing implementations that are based on the typical current practice.
I think we agree that most end consumers of the data cannot tell the difference between a Link and a Zone. As such, from their perspective it is very odd to find that some IDs are allowed pre-1970 data and others are not. Furthermore, had someone provided detailed pre-1970 data for America/Aruba a year ago, I think you would have accepted it. Yet you are arguing that now you've made it a Link you can no longer accept it. I would suggest that isn't logical or best practice. Stephen