Not this again!

Our club (http://skysoaring.com) asked people to fly MSL about 6 years
ago and then mandated it about 4 years ago in all club ships. We
marked the altimer "MSL ONLY Club Rules". If you are flying your own
ship, you are PIC and can do most anything you want, and suffer the
consequences too.

The reasons for MSL are simple;

1) The FARs require it.
2) Unless you are living in a dead flat area, the airport you launch
from and the airport you might land at will be at different
altitudes.
3) If you launch at an airport above 3,000ft or so you probably can't
set your altimeter to AGL in the first place.
4) If you desire to fly anything beyond gliders, you had better use
MSL as your instructor will kick you out of the airplane otherwise.
5) Go for a check ride with an examiner, fly AGL, and see what
happens.

Rule of primacy rules - the first thing you are taught should be the
right thing as whatever is taught is going to be doubly difficult to
be un-taught. MSL it is!

- John DeRosa