Yeah this is the crazy thing about shell redirect syntax

   2>&1   # descriptor redirect

   2>& 1  # identical to above

   2 >&1  # runs a command "2" and then does a descriptor redirect

And likewise for

   2>1
   2> 1
   2 >1

The 2 is really part of the operator, but the 1 isn't !

Ick, you're right. I was thinking solely about the change with their version of the "2>&1" vs "2>& 1" case.

Although making such an error in my example doesn't seem to invalidate my point. It takes an already odd syntax and makes it subtly different, instead of tightening it up.