Mark, I'm confused.
On the certificate, the "replaces" field tells the Registrar to remove the named course from the active course list.
On the online course register, doesn't the replaced course simply drop off?
Where does "replaced by" enter into the picture?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think the big picture here kind of boils down to "who should determine whether or not a course should remain on the active list- those who arranged to have it certified- or those of us who maintain the course list?"
I don't have strong feelings either way. With the course list now in the public domain, anyone can read it, and I can see how there could be confusion as to which edition of a number of courses with the same name was used for a specific event. I can see the argument for keeping as many courses certified as possible, but I can also see a race organizer's arguiment in favor of removing a course from the list if they are certain they will never use it again- even if someone else possibly could.
Removing courses from the couse list makes that list less cumbersome, but ading courses back to the list is more work for everybody involved. Not sure if the lighter weight is worth it.