Greg,
The code rewrite system and timing has become a vehicle for many individuals and organizations (can you say NFPA) to make a large amount of money. The manufacturers use the code to require purchases of more equipment and products. There would be a lot less work for code update instructors if the code did not change so often.
The NEC has become so large and cumbersome that most electricians have little hope of ever understanding it. Even the practice of taking update classes every three years is mostly eyewash. Understanding good electrical practice requires just that--practice. Just about the time that we become accustomed to using the latest code, it is time to change to the next version.
It would be a real slap at NFPA if many states refused to accept the arc fault protection section of the 2008 code. What a joke that is. There will be more fires from overheating panelboards, because the panels are not designed to remove the excess heat from a high number of arc fault breakers.
Because of the profit motives involved, there is very little hope of ever changing the update schedule to something more reasonable, such as 5 to 10 years.
Signed,
Another cynical wireman
Larry
