Paradocs: *Despite* the fact that I live in California (and therefore somehow get dinged for fashion trendiness whatever this has to do with the topic), those of us who have been using the program since its TransMedia incarnation (and we're talking about 8 or 10 years here) have seen the thing go from semi-unreliable to reliably unreliable, to (now) both slightly unreliable (remember I said they don't post about 10% of the time)and now a big "game" to play.

My frustration is that quite soon, if you're without access to a computer while out picking a place to dine (yes, in Trendy Fashionable California we leave our computers at home and spend time in the city out, perhaps becoming hungry at some point), it'll end up useless because they are changing the program to "only xx days of the week", and even "only at these particular times, with a reservation booked thru I-dine", and THEN you run the "wonder if it'll post?" roulette game.

[Before, it was simple: like you said, just tear out the pages where you're headed, pick what looks good, voilą: lotsa miles].

"Gaming" of this nature reduces the utility of the program (and like I also said, I'll still "play" and earn, hopefully, tens of thousands of miles, but man---- they take every good thing and turn it into a big Production Number...... ).

You see, one other thing about life today is that I personally am getting *weary* of every darned business trying to turn their particular schtick into High-Involvement Purchase Decision mode. And I have a tendency to think I'm not alone. If they make it too frustrating (I know this is a mileage restaurant, but do I get miles today? At Dinner or only at Lunch? Have I checked my various statements to see if they posted? Drat, did I use the wrong credit card, the same one I already used this month?), many (probably not you or me, my friend, because we're Mileage Mavens) will just say "skip it". And then I-Dine will fold.

So just enjoy your dining, and rack up those points now, same as I am, because all good things come to an end. This program is just starting to change just a little too much, and that makes me think they're starting to get desperate, which precedes "GAME OVER" about 90% of the time; no prediction on when.

[Evidence: take a look at your latest directory for San Francisco's areas. There was only TWO "Fri/Sat Excluded" restaurants about a year ago. There were NO "see your computer for eligible dates/times" entries. Get a look at The Future (it's just starting now!....) ]

{Apologies and due credit here to the Firesign Theatre about 1972, from whom I borrowed that last tagline}

[This message has been edited by SST (edited 03-28-2002).]