if I have it right. I am glad to hear of this change and don't want to get into a 'how high is up' debate - only trying to understand the logic here.
It's now 10.000 over level land and 2,000 over the jagged mountain tops in an RV-12 if the pilot is Sport Pilot. But that same pilot can fly that same RV-12 to 18,000 (ok, maybe the aircraft can't make it that high) if he is a Private Pilot. So the limitations are on the pilot. OK.
Does the FAA assume that a Sport Pilot is physically challenged solely because he has a Sport Pilot Certificate? But the FAA allows that same pilot fly a glider up to 18,000 or above with a glider PPC? I know that some of the gliders go at least as fast as an RV-12 at cruise when going cross country. What is magical about the 10,000' limit? Speed limit maybe - please explain.
Seems to me that Sport Pilot rated pilots should be allowed up to 18,000 just like the guy with a PPC who has a C-152. Yeah, I know that a C-152 probably won't make it up that high but you know what the point is.