FM> There is another, valid, reason for SOT.

BL>   It defines the first line if it's not AREA:. That's all it does. A
BL> blank would do the same thing and need no processing.

SOT doesn't "need processing".  SOT is a real control line.
A blank line would become part of user-text.  In fact, that
is the reason Frank and I both see a blank line on your
messages.  No software knows to strip it out.  It assumes
(correctly) that you deliberately put a blank line there.
BFN.  Paul.
@EOT:

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