One set of rules, one standard with equitable application to all, would
  be a fine place to start.

John,

 

As I tried to subtlety point out before, the Experimental AMATEUR Built planes have gone from wood and fabric one-offs -> plans built -> simple kits -> complex, high powered, high altitude, highly prefabbed kits.  What's next before the rules need to be different?  Those airplanes are not the same and the rules cannot be twisted so much so that they are the same for all. 

 

Personally, I would prefer a new super-duper category with whatever requirements are necessary for both the builder, pilot and craft.  Maybe the new category could be decided by costs, like greater than $.5 Million/flivver (adjusted for inflation) so that the rest of us can continue as we were.  Maybe different rules for non-amateur built aircraft that operate above FL180 and amateur built aircraft that operate below FL180.  Geez, the FARs recognize differences, as do the laws of nature. 

 

Perhaps interested parties should describe the rules for such a new category to the EAA and FAA rather than claim that the Feds are going to be unfair.

 

Even DAR's limit themselves to aircraft constructed from materials and utilizing techniques that they know about, don't they?

 

My $.00 contribution - take it for what it is worth.