FYI OP is answering my question on what the historian's theory was! (They were downvoted) This route makes sense to me; I do think the deal has been getting wo

FYI OP is answering my question on what the historian's theory was! (They were downvoted) This route makes sense to me; I do think the deal has been getting worse and worse lately, and periodic renegotiation is required to keep things running properly.