Re: How did it come to this?
I could almost stomach paying for useful standards, but even worse than hiding standards behind a paywall is when they:
* Have one standard reference three more, each of which references yet more standards.
* Update a standard every couple of years with insignificant changes that still require obtaining the latest version.
* have two or more standards from SAE, ISO, DIN, etc. that are pretty much the same, but aren't identical so you need multiple copies.
At work I have access to an internal tool that gives me access to pretty much any standard I can dream of (already bought and paid for). Even relieved of the financial concerns the hassle of the above bother me.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
