dropping Priority field from binary packages for most packages

[Ansgar <ansgar@43-1.org>]

Hi,

could we drop the Priority field from most packages? Most packages use
"Priority: optional" and this is just noise in d/control (source
package). Tools should just assume "optional" when no other value is
set.

Currently Policy documents Priority to be mandatory in 2.5:

+---
| Each package must have a priority value, which is set in the
| metadata for the Debian archive and is also included in the
| package’s control files (see Priority).
+---[ https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html#priorities ]

As well as only recommended:

+---
| The fields in this file are:
| [...]
| - Priority (recommended)
+---[ https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-controlfields.html#binary-package-control-files-debian-control ]

I would like to drop it pretty much everywhere, most importantly
debian/control in source packages (as often humans edit these). But it
could be dropped in other places (CONTROL in .deb and Packages indices)
as well.

Regards,
Ansgar

PS: Please note the following disclaimer: I might or might not be payed
for this change and refuse to disclose financial incentives or other
conflicts of interest; I might or might not suggest to revert this if
my sponsors' (should they exist) priorities shift elsewhere.

-- 
Certified Software Terrorist (Crime of File Relocation)