> I would not expect a Unicode expert to know about implementation 
> details of
> optimizing Scheme implementations, which are far different from the 
> details
> and constraints of a C library, a browser, or a stand-alone XSLT 
> processor).
> I would take their advice as a rule-of-thumb (as in follow it when 
> you don't
> know any better).  I trust that the editors know better.

I'm not sure that I agree with your first claim. There are many languages 
that have issues similar to those of Scheme, there are many that have 
already added Unicode, and there are some that have had expert help in 
doing so. Anyway, I certainly agree that the editors could weigh any 
expert advice presented; I just get the sense that there aren't many 
experts involved in the discussion. (Obviously, that includes me.)

I have two concerns.

First, the current standard takes the position that code units should be 
hidden from programmers. That isn't really a Scheme implementation issue, 
it's a philisophical issue, and it has consequences--like indirectly 
favoring UTF-32 (ignoring, for the time being, exotic string 
representations). I think an expert could probably add value to that 
debate.

Second, there's a recurring theme in these threads that UTF-16 is a 
mistake and should probably be deprecated, when in fact the people who 
designed Unicode see it as a purposeful optimization. I can find no 
indication from any expert that there is or should be a movement toward 
UTF-32. Again, this isn't really a Scheme implementation issue either, and 
again I think an expert could probably add value to that debate too.


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