> > Personally, I think I'd prefer to get a diagnostic xor what I asked
> > for.

> Yes!  Then the dialogue goes --
> client: I'd like a box of number 5 nails, please.
> server: Sorry, sir, we're fresh out of them.
> client: In that case, I'll have number 7s.
> server: Certainly, sir: here you are!
> I actually think hardware-store analogies are _very_ helpful in
> thinking through these things, sorry Matthew!

Hardware store analogy for brief [meta]data in surrogate diagnostics,
which I think accomplishes what Theo wants:

client:  Please tell me about all of your types of nail.
         (search request)
server:  We have number 1 <details>, number 4 <details>, we don't have
         number 5 temporarily as we've sold out, and number 3,546
         <details>.
         (search response + extended diagnostic)

As opposed to:

server:  We have number 1 <details>, number 4 <details>, something we
         don't have temporarily, number 3,546 <details>
         (search response + minimal diagnostic)

Theo, that's what you want to accomplish I think? Rather than being able
to return real records of any arbitrary schema?

Rob

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