While I agree with that, the sad reality is that with the performance and statistic driven USDPN handicap system, if the boats are slower around the course (and they show up in numbers), the new boat will have the effect of increasing the rating of the existing fleet of a-cats. In a fleet of apples, it would be an orange and the handicap system would need to make an accommodation for it. Otherwise, the current fleet of 165 lb a-cat ratings would go up making it unfair for anyone that races against them in the future.
Only if it is the sole A cat at the event. As I understand it, they only look at the fastest boat in its class for computing PNs.
