The most ridiculous rule change I have ever seen…

I am amazed… WTC have banned compression socks, calf guards etc., or anything that will cover your age stated on your calf. So these are banned at the World Championships in Hawaii. The argument is that the other athletes can't see your age when you pass them if your calf is covered. Come again... What the fuck! Is this for real?
I have never seen such a poor decision in my few years as a Ironman triathlete. As soon as I read this I wrote a very impulsive mail to the WTC. No doubt that I will gain nothing from that e-mail. But I can not imagine that the majority believes that banning compression socks or anything that covers your calf so your competitors can’t see your age is any kind of solution. If that really is a problem for some athletes there are many other solutions than to make a unseen rule to ban a specific garment. What if is cold? What if I want to wear something for the sun? I for instance wear arm sleeves to keep myself as cool as possible. I am aware that the start number on my arm then is not always visible. But where are our priorities? Is it most important that other athletes can see my age than I get the best possible performance? The athletes should race against themselves instead of concentrating on others and stop being so petty as this obviously show that some are.
We have start numbers on our bag on the bike. Why not make it a rule then that you must wear the start number stating your age on the bag on the run as well as on the front. Then no one can honestly say that they are in doubt which age group I or any other are in when they are being passed on the run. You can also just write it in black on the compression sock or on the calf guards prior to the race. No one wearing these garments would mind. Finally this entire discussion is ridiculous. When you write these things directly on your calf, arms etc. they don’t last anyway. After sun cream, the swim, sweat etc., how much is actually visible when you get to the run?
If anyone actually feels that it is so essential that they can see yours or my age then just write it on the garment or wear start number on the bag on the run as well. What is the problem, WTC?