Rick,
The two reasons for the rule, as far as I know, is so that players can't get tells from other players still in the hand. And so that if you are working with another player in the tournament & are cheating, you can't give your partner any information about your hand. As to the rule being a "silly one", I think you will find arguments for both sides. I like the rule. Either way, if it is a rule in any tournament you play in, then you need to abide by it. Andy - Las Vegas