You nailed it.

Major emotional sophistry seemingly based on a root aversion to Pluto as a planet.

I could not care less about Pluto as a planet per se.

What irks me is the typical international disfunctional self-important pontification that I saw first hand for decades in international telecom stds committees now blatently expressed in astronomy. I was naieve enough to believe that somehow scientists were above this self-aggrandizing behaviour. I was wrong.

And yes, I typically enthusiastically support the IAU and its objectives. Not their best hour.

Here's my suggestion...

How about a little more DATA before something as major as redefining the solar system?

At least make the daffynitions flexible enough to encompass our ignorance.

Y'know that Kepler is only a few years away from flying and likely yet again redefining everything we think we know about 'planets' whatever they are. What's the rush?