I DO NOT have problems with deductions whatsoever. There are several aspects that go into calculating a bucks score mass/spread/tine and beam length......and SYMMETRY. It's not as if gross is completely ignored,the sysptem serves to reward the bucks that are symmetrical, just like it rewards those with tons of mass, length, ect.

As far as an alternative scoring system weight could never be an option because of the variety of sizes of the attached skull cap. However, a water-displacement system would be able to measure the exact amount of bone an animal had on its head. I believe, being as humans are an intelligent race, it would only take us a limited time til we were able to say "that bucks 18mm (the amount of water displaced)" the same way we have evolved to be able to look at a picture and instantly reply 130". However, this will never happen just a way to reward the deer for everything he grew.