# Gavin Andresen
# 2012-01-25 19:20:58
# https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=60433.msg712543#msg712543

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Please explain to me how ANY of the proposals (the original OP_EVAL, BIP 16, and BIP 17) are any different in the "what if we change our minds and want to remove support" case? @p{par}

Removing support for BIP 17 would be harder than removing support for BIP 16, because if the network doesn't support it @p{(bf}all@p{bf)} BIP 17 transactions can be stolen @p{(bf}as soon as they're broadcast@p{bf)}. @p{par}

Imagine there are a bunch of un-redeemed BIP 17 transactions in the block chain and support for BIP 17 goes away.  Every single one of them could be immediately redeemed by anybody. @p{par}

The situation is better with BIP 16, because of the "half validation" done by old nodes.  Admittedly not a lot better, but it is the "belt and suspenders" nature of BIP 16 that makes me prefer it.