The distasteful part comes from the gloating, Ed.
No one, except you, said anything about Remington employees re: access to records. Though I will note that typically company records are considered property of the company and not its individual employees. Just cuz you get a job at Coke sweeping floors doesn't mean you can borrow the secret formula.
My understanding, which may be wrong, is that Remington allowed select people access to the records (e.g. copying them) not as individuals but as members of the PGCA. And I would believe they did it to benefit the greater good of the Parker collecting world, not to help line the knowledge base of a few select individuals. Am I wrong?
How can people with select knowledge avoid having it? Easy. Publish all that they have. If they wish to charge a fee for the fact that they hefted smelly books so be it. Personally, I would be glad to heft smelly books at no charge, but hey that's just me.
It's kinda like the volunteer at the State Fair pocketing $5 out of every $100. After all, how could he avoid it?
I'll say it again - I don't have any problem with the PGCA or their research letter program - it's a good thing. But shouldn't all members of the PGCA have equal access to information that is considered part of the PGCA base?
