at first, i was thinking you weren't aware of the difference between the ethanol and gasoline BTU content - but you are, so i missed the boat on that one.
as to your feeling on it being an unnecessary ripoff goes back to the gov't again. they gave a way of the farmer to cash in on his corn crop at the cost of the driver. the driver is still paying the same amount of sales tax on that 10% blend which amounts for somewhere of 40=A2 so, in all fairness, shouldn't there be a 4=A2 drop in sales tax since it's not 100% gasoline and you really are getting less for your money, which we both agree on.
the whole situation is about money in general - taxes, higher pump prices, more profit. they want to driver to look at EFT's and fuel delivery systems, the mechanics of the engines, because while we are doing that, they are putting our money in their pockets.
it's all part of the spot light trick. the spot light trick? how does it work? real good. here's an example - if OPEC raises prices on oil today by $5 a barrel, within hours, all the gas stations will have reflected that change. why? the gasoline that was in their tanks is still the same gas that was there yesterday selling at a cheaper price. don't you wish you could do that?
case in point - there is a law against it, but it doesn't seem to apply here. if we have a natural disaster, say a hurricane and you have wood, emergency supplies in your store, and you decide to raise prices because something happened, you will go to jail because of price gouging.
yet, the prices go up and the fuel in the tank stayed the same. isn't that price gouging?
i don't want to sound like i'm on a stump because i have a gripe, but it really is in response to what you said. when the gas companies say that have to change the blend from summer to winter - or vice versa - when you get 10% less gas mileage for the same cost of gallon, didn't you just pay more for the cost of driving your car and therefore in a round about way - raised prices. you paid for.......but got less. and the company made more profit, the gov't make the taxes off of, but the consumer got stuck for the bill.
and for what's it's worth, 60 minutes did a show on the difference gas companies going to the same gas depot and filling their tankers with the same fuel. go figure.
my position is that i do agree with you and wanted to load your guns up with information that supports what you saying too.
hope this helps.
~ curtis
knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional