On the Issue of the Half-Star

At Frank Bruni's goodbye party, the debate over the half-star system came up. Tom Colicchio thinks it necessary—not all three stars are made equal, after all—but according to the Brunz, "half stars mean you can’t make up your mind." Bauer obviously favors the half system; but would those 2.5-star ratings be more helpful if he had to bump them one way or the other? [Mouthing Off via ENY]