makes assumptions
with "full knowledge of what startup does" is it making an assumption that variables at the top of main are zero??

I am NOT refering to var = 0; in general, I am specifically referring to this

void main(void)
{
var = 0;

this zeroing will occur immediately after startup has zeroed the var and with "full knowledge of what startup does" unnecessary.

Of course, if the portability myth is included in the discussion, I can agree with stating that this is an "assumption"

Erik