[gnduke]

I see what you are saying, and agree to a point.

I don't think there should be a separate rating system for women or old men. I think having one system that is consistent for all players at the same time allows more accurate comparisons among other players and amongst a smaller group.

The additional problem of a separate system with such small numbers is that a couple of rapidly improving players could easily skew the ratings in a given area as compared to the rest of the world. The larger the number of players involved in rating any event, the more accurate the number will be.

And I would be insulted if I was in a group that was considered to be so far off the scale that a new scale was needed.