BG> Perhaps it's because the Supras aren't Austel 
 BG> approved, and I really couldn't give a flying toss 
 BG> whether they work or not.  It's totally irrelevant 
 BG> to me.
 
This applies to almost any modem using Rockwell chips,  although there are
some exceptions,  and Supra have indicated they will work around this in 
a new firmware.
 
I don't care whether you give a flying toss either,  but you said
"there's still no hard evidence that the problem is USR's",  and
then speculated about the agression of the Courier on link rates.
 
There is hard evidence, backing up what others have being saying.   
Whether it's a 'problem' is open to debate,  and if you don't care fine.
 
Ludi,
root{at}maxdog.apana.org.au

--- Maximus 3.01