"Put a less experienced op behind the wheel of a pile up (even a small one) and he'll pick the louder station first. It's easier."
Pardon me if I got a huge laugh out of that, you reminded me of my smug satisfaction at the time. After an hour and a half of calling the DX finally came back and being some sort of smart alec told me straight out he was working only big guns and returned my call only to get rid of an annoyance, me. I can be like a tick on a hound dog, patience is one of my virtues and I have the persistence of P4 phosphor with plenty of time to be as annoying as that tick in a sensitive spot. It pays off when it's quality you're after, anybody can fill the log with contacts and impress no one while watching a fellow DXer's eyes bug out reading it is priceless.
"Did you have something other than a Tech class license back then when you were on 20m?"
Poke poke yourself (;->) I had something better like operating from the shack of an Extra's DC to light QRP to full gallon station in what amounted to an ideal, noise free location perfectly sited for working the world. I'll give you a clue, the now defunct WSC coastal maritime station now W2WSC is right up the street, RCA didn't choose a salt marsh in West Creek for nothing.
DX nothin' but a houn' dog, I bite yo' bad behind
DX nothin' but a houn' dog, I bite yo' bad behind
Come back to me silly rabbit
Or I drive you out o' yo' mind
Big Momma Thornton was mad enough at Elvis for rocking up her Blues but her ghost gonna spook my lights now!