Hello, Nicholas.

Wednesday April 29 2015 at 16:35, you wrote to me:

 NB> So I'm a little confused as to how it's anything close to a 'kludge'
 NB> or even somewhat difficult for that matter. Then again, I don't know
 NB> Slackware (nor do I care to) or how they handle things. *shrug*

I know how Debian, Gentoo, et al. handles 32-bit stuff, but it's all a
kludge in a 64-bit system (which it seems you don't have a lot of
experience with running a pure 64-bit system); 32-bit stuff doesn't really
use the full potential of a 64-bit system and that's really why I don't
bother with it.  99% of the stuff I build is from source code and it will
compile correctly as pure 64-bit.  There's only certain programs that I use
that are pre-compiled...two of them, actually.  Everything I build myself.

Netrunner was a one-off try and I don't care one way or the other
personally as I'll never use it.

Concerning using a 32-bit subsystem in a 64-bit system: it's like owning a
sports car with a subpar four-cylinder engine.  You can do it, but why? 
When you have the tools to harness the full power of your system, you tend
to use them.  32-bit is fine, but as you said in a pithy manner, why be
behind the times with a 32-bit system when the future is 64-bit?

I could write an essay of why I feel Slackware is better than systems that
rely heavily on package dependencies and use altered versions of programs
to fit the distribution's packaging requirements...and that hold your hand
with system adminstration duties instead of allowing you to make your own
decisions, good or bad, as well as not being deeply involved in political
bruhaha.  But that is neither here nor there in this discussion, no matter
what your bias is.

This has wandered off-topic in here so I'm going to close the thread here. 
If you want to discuss more, I'm always available via email or netmail.

Later,
Sean

... Open mouth, insert foot, echo internationally.
--- GoldED/2 3.0.1