Jeff, Be very aware that broad support exists outside the registrar community (and indeed outside your WG) for the 'free trade' option. There are many in the end-user community who want an increase of options in TLD business models, and that they should not be forced to go through an indirect channel should they see no value-add from that channel. The contracted parties may have their internal arguments, but what is best for the end-user is usually ignored in such squabbles. In my own informal polling, the free trade option is widely (though not universally) liked within the at-large community. In any case, it should be no surprise to anyone that those contracted parties who feel most constrained by the existing rules are most in favour of liberalisation, while those who have most to lose from relaxation -- as well as those simply fearful of change -- would support the status quo. As for the Ice Cream analogy, that cuts many ways, even more of them arguing against the RACK option than against free trade.