As an out of state guy, as we both are..... you seem to know everything about Utah, and of course everything else.
It politics.... period .... and of which you know nothing about. The decision was made LONG before public input, which was nothing more than a formality, just as biggamehunter78 agreed.
Do you even have a clue why they "went with a compromise"? That was also discussed LONG before public input. Its politics 101.
My side lost? I don't hunt Utah, but I support................ ALL .......... methods of muzzleloading. Period. At least I stay consistent. I don't agree with what I believe are the masses, but when questioned about scopes on your muzzleloaders, you state, "I only use for load development". Then many photos of you hunting and showing your scoped rifles in the field, all without open sights, just scopes, and the next answer is, 'I use a muzzleloader during AWH.'
You STILL want to use the survey presented ONLY by the DWR, and that is exactly what they want people to think.