On Fri, 15 Aug 2008, Steven M. Bellovin wrote:
and i am saying that you should use a router configuration *system* that avoids ticking time bombs. no router should be neglected and unloved.
That, I think, is why he distinguished between routers run by "highly clueful people" and routers run by others. I think we all agree on your basic point; it's just that too many people aren't clueful enough to realize that they even have a problem, let alone know how to solve it. (Of course, you and I both have a background in programming languages and compilers, which is why we naturally think of router configurations as a form of assembler language that only a compiler should every emit.)
To avoid people feeling individually insulted, I sometimes try to distinguish between the purposes of equipment rather than the capabilities of the person maintaining it. A NASCAR racing team may perform extensive monitoring and maintenance on their racing cars; but that doesn't mean I should need a team of 5 mechanics to keep my regular street car operating safely with a few idiot lights on the dashboard.