You are right Led Zep, whether you hit someone at 50, 250 or 300 is rather academic. It's just that for the obvious reasons - oxy-requirements for non-pressurized aircraft, anemic piston engines, proximity to the scenery and airfields etc. - there are a lot more Indians close to the ground tham at the Flight Levels. I'll admit that the regulations are not perfect in this sense, but I reckon 250 does offer an added level of safety vs. "whistling in at 300-320 knots at low altitude". My argument will obviously be weakened if ADS-B becomes mandatory, but Centaurus's stand until the Birdflu has wiped out the lot of 'em (..................or the lot of
us come to think of it, in which case this whole argument REALLY becomes academic
).