Comment 12 for bug 252924

Ubuntu Intrepid removes a traditional interface that breaks popular software, so the pertinent issue is backwards compatibility.

Whether /dev/rtc0 and /dev/rtc1 are identical or different is irrelevant to the person using the computer because either would be adequate for software that expects the legacy interface. This is nearly the same as reimplementing /dev/null as /dev/null0 and expecting the userland to go looking for it.

Why is keeping a /dev/rtc link for compatibility the wrong choice?