[skewart]

Ah, I see, that makes sense. The protocol level does seem like a good way to enforce it. Though I do have to wonder if, had that enforcement been put in place, people would have moved away from HTTP and toward a different, looser protocol on top of TCP. Or maybe that wouldn't have been practical. It's interesting to think how early, seemingly low level decisions about protocol design can have a profound effect on how things develop down the road.