>I don't  think this is a new problem; as I understand it, this is why
>the -n option exists for reboot.

actually...my sunos 4.1.3 man page for reboot says:

     -n   Avoid the sync(1).  It can be used if  a  disk  or  the
          processor is on fire.

although...if "a disk or the processor" were on fire, i doubt you'd
actually calmly (madly?) type "reboot".

...unless you were naive enough to think that the fire was simply an
affectation of an as-yet undocumented kernel bug and you needed to
reboot quickly in order that you could be the first to send-pr it.  :)

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