Interesting question, Toni. However, I would like to get back to the first digression on this thread.
I do not imagine that RRTC will elect to require all maps to be created in an electronic format any time soon, if ever. The ease of Open Office use and the fine work by Mark Neal on map creation notwithstanding. Maybe some day, as subsequent generations of measurers who are more digitally-oriented come on line. Until then, crappy maps will be submitted. All of us have seen them on USATF.org.
I volunteer to help spearhead an initiative: to actively promote electronic map creation. Who can doubt that some day, hand-drawn maps, as fine as some of them are, will become the buggy whips of course certification? So, why shouldn't we get a handle on this benefit now instead of waiting until the lousy map issue becomes embarrassing?
Mark has done some fine work creating the Open Office tutorial. We can begin the process of eliminating the "garbage in" part of the map problem by asking all measurers who submit a course to download Mark's package and attempt to use it to create the next map they submit. After a year or two of requesting digital map submissions, we could begin to require it.
Without excessive expense, we could create video tutorials for newbies. These videos will take them through the entire process of downloading and installing open office, and how to create clear, accurate, and complete maps using the drawing program. For those of us who use Illustrator or Corel Draw, we could do a tutorial based on Duane's fine work.
After we make electronic maps a requirement - OK - this could take a few years - we could set up a system where a new measurer who does not have the skills nor the time to learn them for a particular certification, could submit the raw info to persons in RRTC who would create the map for a modest, reasonable fee.
None of us want to create barriers to entry to measuring, so this system of "farming out" map drawing would eliminate that potential problem. I believe this will also give USATF and RRTC a more professional image with the public. This brings up another consideration, which I will bring up in a different forum - that is, presenting a more professional image overall.
Anyway, now that we are moving towards electronic submissions, why shouldn't we carry this one step further and facilitate the creation of electronic maps, thereby raising the overall quality level of our work?