My guess is that they are going to do away with the final WX. In the days before ACARS, it made sense to do it that way. Now, with the continual availability of WX in the cockpit, and the ability of the dispatcher to contact the cockpit in the event of unforeseen WX issues, it is a bit redundant.

The WX briefing on the FDRA is only required to be up to the minute **At the time of signing the release**, which is why they want you to sign it immediately, I suppose. As for the other uses of the release, as a reminder, or a piece of wampum to be exchanged for a bag of ice or anything, really, it was never meant to be used in that manner. But it became exactly that at Delta, ingrained in the culture, and I'd not seen it before I came here.

You're still the Captain, and you still get whatever you want before you turn a wheel, even if it means calling ops, getting the jetway back on and making it happen. I agree that it's a big change from the way things were. I'd plan on more to come...