Re: [idn] Re: 7 bits forever!

["David Leung \(Neteka Inc.\)" <david@neteka.com>]

> > It is reasonable to demand time to upgrade, so that there are no
> > interoperability problems. It is not reasonable to demand that this
> > 7-bit garbage be allowed to remain on the network forever, at the
> > expense of all future implementors and users.
>
> forever is a long time.  and yet, even if all use of quoted-printable
> were to cease today, there would still be a need for new MUAs to be
> able to read old messages stored on servers for many more years, perhaps
> decades.
>
> using raw utf-8 in message headers wouldn't replace 2047. instead,
> it would add yet another format that MUAs are expected to parse
> and display. it would not reduce complexity, it would add to it.

If we add new MIME headers and ESMTP commands, MUA and MTA should be able to
have a smooth transition from 7bit encoded 8bits to UTF8. If there is a
requirement of change anyway, why not change it to something that is more
simple and well support by the Unicode Consortium.