I have a great proficiency story for you. One night when I was nine years old I saw my dad sitting at his desk reading a small book. I went over and asked him what he was doing. He showed me the book and it was all letters and spaces. (I now understand that it was a one letter key) He explained that each letter represented a word. Then he pointed to a line and said "this line reads, Where were you first prepared to be made a Mason?". Then he pointed to the next line and said "this is the answer, do you know what it says?" I looked, and the line was I M H. I thought a moment and then guessed, "In My Home". "No" he said, "try again". Then I said, "In Masonic Hall?" He was smiling now. "No, try again" Then, as I looked at the letters, I suddenly knew what they meant and I told him. "Yes" he said, "that's right". This moment is one of my favorite memories of my father.
When I became a Mason my jurisdiction was already using the short form. After I had been through all my degrees I pulled my father aside and asked "When are they going to ask me where I was first prepared to be made a Mason?" "Oh, they don't do that anymore" was his reply. 'Cheated' is the word I would use to describe how I felt.
So I got one of the full text rituals from Grand Lodge and I asked my dad for his old one letter key. I began comparing them until I found a string of letters that I recognized. I worked forwards and backwards from that point until I had pieced together most of the old question and answer catechism. I spoke with many of the older Masons who helped me fill in the blanks. Then I proposed that we perform the old style catechism in Lodge as an entertainment. I was surprised when I was told that the old catechism was an outlawed ritual and that it was a Masonic offense to perform it in open Lodge. (In defense of the G.L. I understand why they outlawed the old ritual, they didn't want to create the appearance that there were two classes of Masons; old style and new style.)
Do I think that this cheapens Masonry? I guess my answer depends on whether you are talking about cost or value. It is certainly less costly in terms of time and level of commitment. Today we live in a more fearful world than our fathers did. In a fearful world people tend to desire low cost over good quality. I find it disappointing to see Masonry following this trend.