History Repeated and Repeated, and Repeated, and Repeated

I often say that opticians and ECPs are their own worst enemy. I must toss the entire optical industry in with that classification.

As an example I will use the pattern edger. Why is it after, what, seventy five years, not one company has switched to a zero on-size setting? Why is it that we stick to the confusing and outdated 36.5?

Would it not be simpler and reduce error if we simply agreed that an on size pattern and lens would be set at 0 and then make the dial read + and – in 1mm and 1/10mm steps?

For that matter why do we still have pattern edgers?