After a while a C feels like a B

I saw this book on a bibliography for a TEDS course in TC and it looked worthwhile, so I asked BJU’s Mack Library to order it.

Textual Optimism: A Critique of the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament
Kent Clarke

I let a teacher of mine know that the book was coming, and he replied:

Yes, I came across Clarke’s name recently and noticed this title. Thanks for requesting it. I think part of his work, at least, is a study in how the certainty ratings in UBS seem to have risen nearly across the board between the 3rd and 4th editions.

I have seen complaints in KJVO literature about ratings changing without MS evidence changing. I suspect that these rating increases probably reflect the comfort we all gain with new ideas over time. That is, a certain reading may seem unsure enough to be given a C rating, but after thirty years as part of the commonly accepted text and with few or no challenges, it just feels like a B.