Defining "Separate but Equal"

I’d like to start a general discussion about the “Separate but equal” rule (104.5.5C) that defines whether multiple courses used at a National championships can be considered “equal”. Background: We typically run our SC Nationals in two courses. One of the ways in which we save a great deal of time is by having heats of the same event run concurrently in both courses if the courses are considered competitively equivalent. (Otherwise, we have a “women’s” course and a “men’s” course.) It seems to me that in the recent past, we have considered courses “equal” even though there may have been some differences between them. (e.g. different heights for the starting blocks) The rule, as currently written, doesn’t give any specifications on how insignificant these differences need to be. The rule also allows the Championship Committee to ignore these differences if the meet timeline would run long by having separate-sex courses. Many forum contributors have recently expressed strong feelings for having tight control and uniformity regarding competitive conditions. So, I’d like to hear what you think about this issue, particularly if you have and/or will attend Nationals. (Note: I’m not trying to make any stand about the particular case with the upcoming Hawaii meet…I’m just wondering if we need to do something to the existing rule in the future – either by enforcing it differently or tightening it.) Starting with the items specifically listed in rule 104.5.5C… BULKHEAD TURNS – If one pool has a bulkhead turn, must the other pool(s) have a bulkhead turn to be considered “equal”? TYPE OF GUTTER / BLOCKS – Do all the starting blocks in all courses have to be the same height, size, and make/model? If not, how similar can they be? VISIBILITY OF TIMING DISPLAY – Do the scoreboards have to be the same size/make/model and do they need to be in the same relative position? If not, how similar can they be? DEPTH OF WATER – Does the depth of the courses have to be symmetrical? (equal uniform depth or depth that is uneven but similar) Does the depth have to be similar at each turn? …and are these other factors (not listed in the present rule) considered significant enough to render courses “unequal”?… LANE WIDTH – Is a pool with wider lanes “unequal” to the other? LANE LINES & FLAGS – Do the lane lines have to be the same size/diameter/number? Do the backstroke flags have to be the same size/number/height above water? TIMING SYSTEM – Do the timing systems have to be the same model from the same manufacturer and be equally calibrated? Do the touchpads have to be the same model/size? TEMPERATURE – If the pools are in separate basins, can they be of different temperatures? (Note: pools must be between 78-80F) OUTDOOR ORIENTATION – If the pools are outdoors, must they be oriented in the same direction and start from the same end? (Or can we do backstroke events only when it's night or overcast?) OPEN WATER ON SIDES – How much different can the distance/width be between the outermost lanes and the sidewalls for the courses to be “unequal”? …finally… THE COST OF TIME – What is an acceptable cost for ensuring that the meet is conducted on “equal playing fields”? If the meet would stretch beyond _____PM, would you relax your definition of “equal” pools in order to have an earlier finish?