Too many parameters

To the idiot who invented the serial protocol,

What gave you the idea one would need that many protocol options? There's a gazillion of speeds, a number of parity and bit word options, and on top of that, the option between hardware or software flow control.

Why is that? Couldn't you just have said "this is how it'll be", and be done with it? Having to fiddle with all those options and find out the hard way that you'll need to create your own null modem cable is no fun.

Moron.

Yes, I know some of the above is not fully accurate. Don't bother telling me.