Soundhound,

I think you give your Federal Government (and governments everywhere) far too much credit.

Imagine an industry where EVERY product sold is defective in some way. Where despite advertising claims, and the printed material that comes with it, and glowing reviews in trade journals, it NEVER works as advertised for the poor schlepp who buys it. Imagine an industry where EVERY product sold needs to be repaired somehow by the consumer. Where EVERY repair leads to the need for yet more repairs. And where eventually the manufacturer releases a new and improved (but still broken) version of the product - and it's snapped up by the same gullible consumer who bought the original product. Think computer software. Don't see "government" tackling that one anytime soon!

P.T. Barnum would be making out like a bandit today if he were still alive.

ps. I think that we're lucky that in the vast majority of cases, consumer A/V products work more or less as advertised. I have trouble feeling sorry for someone who, after price shopping for days to get the lowest price on a bigscreen RPTV, then proceeds to drop $800 on a six foot length of component video cables - as did a friend of mine!

Jeff Mackwood