Pp. 375-6 of BJA3 show one study comparing the gains from R-A indices vs. e.v.-maximizing ones. The difference is about 2-2.5%. It's possible that any outperformance of the new count compared to Hi-Opt II is due solely to the mismatch between using R-A indices for the former and e.v.-maximizing ones for the latter.

In any event, just as for yet another count that we have just finished studying with Gronbog at the helm, comparison to Hi-Opt II is extremely close. So, the question then becomes not if it's possible to create a count that rivals Hi-Opt II (it clearly is) but rather, given the relative simplicity of using Hi-Opt II, whether it's worth trying to learn either of these other two counts, both of which clearly require more effort to learn.

Don