You must have a long memory because I can never remember the system as being efficient. More efficient than this sure, but never anywhere near optimal. The overiding feeling about Air Traffic Control in this country is quality controllers hamstrung by archaic rules and miles and miles of red tape. When you add that to poorly designed STARS and SIDS, really badly planned airports (Runways, Taxiways and Aprons) and good old screw you attitude you have the makings of a particularly unsafe environment. Loads of pissed off pilots is not helping the situation any.