[Coder-Com] NAMES Reply Format

[The Storm Surfer]

I was noticing today that the NAMES reply (numeric 353) does not match that specified 
in RFC1459.
It seems that an additional second-to-last parameter has been added, an "=".  If the 
channel is mode s it is "@", and if the channel is mode p it is "*".
Why was this change made?
What is the purpose behind this evil?