[TS] Slicing the pie, a question?

[Erling]

Strange to say, I've spent whole last day studying step-and-wait/move-and-wait threads on these forums. It's a funny coincidence this topic revived.

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

If you allow B to count as already Waiting when B makes the Step, this is the outcome. The problem is that this outcome is a free lunch:
Normally, A has the initiative, and opts to give up the ability to use said initiative immediately in exchange for the ability to interrupt those who lost the initiative.
But with the simultaneous ruling, B suddenly gets the ability to ignore A's initiative, or, more precisely, to act as if their initiatives are tied.
Notice that B loses nothing by taking Step-and-simultaneous-Wait instead of taking an Attack or a normal Wait.
Normally, in GURPS, TANSTAAFL.

What on earth did prevent A from attacking the same turn? That was his own decision, so he must face the consequences. When it comes to simulationsm, I can see no reason why A must have the significant edge over B. A could use his opportunity to attack immediately (before B could get prepared), but he chose to Wait. Now both fighters are in fairly equal situations: they have weapons with same Reach and they both need to make some movement in order to attack. Isn't Cascading Waits (MA108) rule a satisfying solution? Also, as Celti said, A do has an advantage, as he has no penalty due to movement (it isn't fair, but it's realistic - offensive fighting can be more difficult than defensive manner).