flounder - If you had looked at the picture, you would have seen that the proposed Dragoon boom has the outhaul mounted externally. It consists of one cheek air block $8.37, one single air block $7.32, one long "D" captive pin shackle $6.49, 8ft.(?) of 3/16" Spec-set $5.44 and in place of the stock webbing- 2 ft. of 5/16" Specta for loop $2.96, all for $30.58. The cheapest Harken setup - H157 traveler $77.75, 1ft. track $10.80, two end stops $7.30, one cheek air block $8.37, one long "D" captive pin shackle $6.49, 8ft.(?) of 3/16" Spec-set $5.44 for a total of $116.15. Which do you think is lighter?
How can class racing be any more expensive than handicap racing? There is always an advantage to the person willing to spend more money on their boat.
Class racing is, and always be, the fairest form of racing. How could you be against that? The handicap systems CANNOT fairly take every little modification and addition into account.
You start at the same time in boats that point the same upwind and downwind, they handle high winds and low winds the same, they handle smooth or rough water the same, if a boat is ahead of you they are beating you, if a boat is behind you, you are beating them, you know who to cover, who to ignore, no HC adjustments, no time keeping errors, no waiting on the PRO to calculate the finishes, the boat that finishes first wins, PERIOD. It doesn't get any better than that.

Are you saying it is better to have bigger boats drive over you, bigger boats handle the surf better, spi boats blanket you, higher pointing boats head you up, faster boats finishing before the wind dies, "light air" boats beating you on the light air days, "heavy air" boats beating you on the windy days, waiting for hours for the last boat to finish, and waiting for hours for the finishes to be posted. That doesn't sound like much fun.
Every body who wants to, should be allowed to and encouraged to race and HC racing is interesting and fun, but class racing is the best!!!
Even with class racing, when you are 45lbs over minimum weight, like me, you never win, but you have a good time.