> cat * > does nothing and wouldn't be an error > at all.
worse, if you follow this to its logical conclusion, any word that isn't an actual file name must be a failed glob expression and should be discarded. so grep -n would be the same as grep, unless you have a file named -n. to the original poster: there's definitely a logical consistency to your original proposal. others have pointed out specific flaws, but the fundamental issue is that it's just not the same system anymore. russ
