My point is, that as they are different (being the way they're held, the way they're drawn, the mechanics behind the energy in the bow itsself, the way they're sighted, the letoff, the release etc etc) so too are compounds. The analogy's hold true - you love the lion being lose but the tiger you confine because he has stripes that make him look a bit different. He's the same beast with cosmetic differences.
Very well written points there Data. In fact you have won me over that crossbows are NOT evil or wrong, even though I never thought as such. I guess I agree 100% in that a compound and a crossbow are similar if not exact in their effective range and lethality. But instead of calling it "archery" why can't we call it crossbowing? or something else? We agree they are different, but similar. We made the point that their effective ranges are as closely matched as a muzzleloader and a shotgun, as similar and yet as different as they .. but they have their own unique hunting seasons. Why not have their own seasons? They could overlap, like Maryland .. and maybe they do bring in more hunters, a good thing of course. But why do they have to be the same? You want "Archery Season", I say give them "Crossbow Season". I haven't said or asked that they be excluded from hunting, just don't try and call a Tiger a Lion to use your analogy.