Who isn't following the Tiger Woods storyline in Augusta, Georgia this afternoon? An obscure rule, loss of mental concentration, and interactive fans probably changed the outcome for Tiger? On the other hand, at least for me, there is no excuse when competing at his level, after all this is the Master's tournament. I count his lesson learned as an important lesson in understanding the rules on the field of play especially rule thirty three dash seven.
In the meantime, I read Dealing With the Skyrocketing Cost of Dxpeditions by Dee Logan, W1HEO in the November/December 2012 issue of The DX Magazine.
I absolutely agree that funding a Top Ten Dxpedition is wildly expensive especially as fuel costs and currency fluctuations pinches operating budgets. Additionally, and probably is not mentioned often enough is the hidden cost of clearing customs and/or ports where greasing the wheel is customary or expected.
Rare activations are probably moving toward a frequency of once in a lifetime or maybe if we are lucky maybe twice? Have you looked at the tentative cost of activating Heard Island scheduled for next year? Cordell Expeditions projects $1,000,000 plus to propagate a signal loud enough to be heard anywhere on the planet. An enormous effort and expense for the sole benefit of a check mark in my LoTW band/mode box.
I believe funding rare Top Ten activations is getting difficult and will continue to be difficult even with foundation support from NCDXF or INDEXA. It is going to take an even greater pool of international, individual donors to help make the list of lists happen at least in my lifetime.
Overall, a good read about the current state of activating a rare one, the effort involved, and the financials required for my band/mode check mark at LoTW.
Chase DX with patience and respect.