What is the need for @node and @menu?

[Annamalai Gurusami]

Hi!

I am currently reading about the Texinfo document preparing system
(http://www.gnupress.org/book9.html).  The more I understand it the
more I believe that the use of @node command is redundant.  The online
version of the document can be prepared without making use of @node
and @menu.

For a node that represents a chapter, its menus would be the sections.
Likewise, for a node that represents a section, its menus would be its
subsections and so on.

The next node for a chapter node would be the next chapter.  The next
node for a section would be next section and so on.

I really don't see any benefit of using @node and @menu.  Its
redundant.  In my opinion, @top is nothing by @contents for info
document system.  

Also, by using two different classes of structuring commands (one
for online publishing and one for printing), the author is now required
to THINK in two different ways.  Its an unnecessary complexity.

What are your thoughts on this?

Rgds,
anna


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