Mike: Good article...I agree with everything except this line:
"The schoolyard bullies easily won that one, partly because the pros are paid a fortune to endorse new products."
This is a position which I know TEPaul agrees with, but the pro's have never lobbied, have no lobby, have never met with the rules makers and I can't see them pressuring the USGA and R&A. They only use the products they get for free or are paid to use. They promote what they're paid to promote.
The legislature (USGA and R&A) makes the rules...do they listen to the convicts when creating just laws? No. They also don't listen to their family members, the tournament professionals when enacting and enforcing those rules (like John Walker-Lindh's parents won't have any baring on his future, no matter how wacky they are).
The press can take partial responsibility, much more so than the manufacturers...as the manufacturers are not in business to protect the game but compete and generate profit within the existing rules structure. The publications and broadcasts rely on manufacturers for advertising money (more so in print than broadcasts), and how can you bite the hand which is responsible for a large portion of the revenue which feeds the staff? There is a clear and deep conflict of interest, and they've resolved it by saying little or nothing about the subject.
The ruling bodies haven't gone to the media either to press the case...so they're culpable in a huge way...to lead is their job and to date have they said peep? They've lacked the leadership to press the case hard, to educate the public...they've just let this thing just roll along.
If aim is to be taken, we've got to aim at the right targets. I think the manufacturers have zero culpability in this. They're just playing by the existing rules.
Once again Mike... I did like the article.