George --

I heartily agree. It provides less than full encapsulation in having to define an otherwise internal-to-the-class property as having public visibility, just to have the capability of using an assign method.

Not that I'm a big user. Most of the classes I've developed are more application specific than foundation level, so the potential for mischief is considerably less. But, isn't orthogonality a virtue, or its own reward?

Say, have you seen the new bio of "de Mayr"? Just released about a month ago -- "American Pharaoh" -- appropriately titled. The local Border's had sold out, but I picked up a copy at Barnes and Noble for Father's Day. Fortunately, Dad likes to read -- it helps to throw a book in the mix with ties and Bulls t-shirts. I was only able to read the foreward before sending it off -- seems well written, fair, smooth -- and interesting!

Ah, here I go off topic again. If we return to the city by the Lake again, maybe we could start a new thread in chatter.

Jay