There is no gainsaying that as technology advances, it is unreasonable to suppose that it wouldn't affect confirming ham radio contacts as well. I agree that if someone is pursing the 'Wall Paper'... certificates like WAS, WAC's etc., it makes the process infinitely easier than the old Postal Posted QSL cards. I guess in the end, for that, its not so much confirming the individual contact as getting the requisite number of appropriate boxes filled for that certificate. There is nothing new here; since Marconi- hams have been chasing the wall paper- and the QSL cards of old were simply submitted for verification, the certificate issued, the cards returned---- thence to reside forever hidden away in some shoe box.
.
I can't count the number of cards I have received as DX with something like this written on them:
.
"PLEASE ! QSL, I need your card to complete my certificate for Work All Goat Island"
.
The request wasn't about anything personal we talk'd about (they never are,).... nothing about our QSO- they just want'd a box to be check'd off for that certificate.
.
I must say, in cases like that (which were a good percentage) I (or my QSL manager) would send back a card.....usually--- but it had better be SASE if domestic, or contain some 'green stamps' if foreign**
.
If it was a cheap, single colour'd card received, filled out in an illegible ball point'd scrawl, not in an envelope- all smeared with Postal cancellation inks-- One guess as to That confirmation's outcome.......
.
.
Oh the other hand, I am not above seeing a commercial aspect to all this--
On a work trip that placed my friend and I on a very rare, remote sand pile in the Pacific- she suggested we set up an automated 20 metre station.. CW maybe- that would automatically QSO then confirm the island, send out a confirmation card, maybe LoTW, etc......... once the Credit Card had clear'd ! (Visa, MC, Discover......
)
.
I love my friend, but said a firm "No" ( she was just kidding, but others have done this seriously-- that sort of that Pay to Play in a hobby like this is deplorable.)
.
.
If I was going to sum this up (and I better; my lunch time for play is about up) I'd say use the computer loggings if all you want is some impersonal confirmation of some "wham bam" "....KN2XXX 59......QRZ...." contact. If you're not into that (which gets very old very fast, btw) get some really nice, unique cards printed, --- save them and send them out to the people that count. Hopefully hams mature as they grow with their hobby, --and paper chasing fades in importance.....
.
.
............................CF
.
.
.
.
.
**I know these terms may be unfamilar to new hams: SASE- 'self address'd stamp'd envelope'............"Green Stamps?"--- US dollar bills.
.
Brutal, - true,-- but sending out cards becomes quite expensive. I am sorry to inform some out there, but cards from the 'lower 48' states just don't mean much to some of us- that is, unless they are really neat in their designs... or personal, or something that makes them unique (for instance--I have had some- like the one that arrived with a case of French Wine- the sender was so eager and appreciative to have finally been able to check off the last contact requirement for his rare DX certificate. I remember'd that gentleman's QSO; it was a very friendly chat-- and he Certainly ! received his QSL card- along with a number of momento's from that location...
)
.
.
And what have I done with the cards I've received?.. I have 3 post'd on the kitchen bulletin board in New Mexico, and three others in Colorado, above a modest little Icom transceiver-- they are all works of art, mostly Japanese-- I display them in fond rememberance of friendship QSO' -- and for the beautiful art they are.