[GM Joe]

Looked at from the other direction, if the game balance premise is accepted for the Rule of 20, then one could conclude that the value is set about high as it can be and still serve the function. As you point out, Bill, it would be easy to argue for setting it lower. I assume the reason it's set high is to provide as wide a range of useful trait values as possible. Certainly, I appreciate it when games have more than a few realistic and mechanically differentiated trait values.