Then, it only returns an object of the previous type, and since it can't be overridden,
Yes it can, providing you use the same number and types of parameters. Worked like a charm so far. Guess that's the advantage of up-front design, over code and fix. Is that the best you can do?
Nope. It was directed at Warren. Didn't want to go all polysyllabic on the poor thing. We know the benefits of features such as method/contructor overloading, and public and private access modifiers.
As does Mark and Simon, and pretty much everyone else tsaking part in this discussion. Appearently we don't all share you and Warrans view. I guess there really isn't only one ring to rule them all. How about promoting clean coding habbits? Do you even know anything about Java or C#?
Since you asked, yes. I've been programming in Java since about version 1.2 (6 or 7 years, I lose count) and C# for about a year and a half. Why do you ask?Incidently, are you seriously suggesting that 'promoting clean coding habits' is the major focus in a language that has Goto? Ich don't think so.