The reason to use a single number as a color was because 3-component colors in a data structure drawing command just seemed too unwieldly. But I'm starting to wonder if this was truly a wise decision to make. The trouble now is it would mean having two versions of every drawing instruction, yuck!
yeah, but once all formats are equally compatible, then in no time they
would be used by all (I think, it sound logical). of couse back-comp would
be nice...