Shrinkage

It wasn't imagination. The new Diamond kitchen matches that we finally found yesterday are a full head shorter, match-head, that is (about an eighth of an inch). The splint may be very slightly more narrow as well. The diminution can be confirmed because there are still a few of the old batch around for comparison. I don't think that shorter matches are a safety feature when the purpose for which they're bought is primarily to relight the pilot lights on the gas stove, which go out as soon as the pressure gets low in this cooler weather.