If you guys wish to continue this please PM me or PM each other and duke it out that way.
This is a very informative thread about a frequently asked question dealing with bidding.
I don’t really care about the history on other sites, as far as I’m concerned SUD has shown his knowledge of A&A here and has contributed much to the A&A forum since he’s been here.  I consider all of his posts “must reads”.
Agent, you too have contributed to this forum, you also make some valuable posts on A&A strat, LL, and overall game mechanics.
We are not here to get everyone thinking the same way, we are here to discuss different options, techniques and strats.  This is a MB afterall.  If we all thought the same there would be no reason to come here.
There are going to be disagreements, but:
1)  keep things civil
2)  keep things focused on strat
3)  leave other board dealings to the other boards or PM each other.
I want people to post here and I’m not in the business of chasing people away or trying to get anyone.  We are talking about a board game here, nothing to get too upset over.  :-D
So, lets get back on topic about Bidding.
I think a minimum bid for me 21.  However, if I played in a club I think I would always bid 24 (possibly 23).  I think I can defeat 23 all day long and can win with 24.  I’m that damn good.  :-)
In RR, I probably wouldn’t bid lower than 12.  If it was Auction I’d start at 15 and see how high I could get then work down.  The key with RR, is Germany will have use of both subs and trn in baltic, plus 6 planes.  that is a huge difference IMO.
I’d bid the same for 3rd and 2nd Ed.  Although, I hate 2-hit BB.  Allied Adv, IMO.
While the W Can sz thing my be an inital set back, it can be worked around, IE an Inf heavy US 1 purchase, as AS suggested.  The Learning curve takes care of that one in about 1-2 games.
Interestly enough, that is how I played prior to the CD.  I never even thought W can was connected to the E can sz.  Huh, go figure.