> Why not just make up your own cable between the programmer and the
> target board using a flat cable (i.e. ribbon cable) and separate the PGD
> and PGC lines by putting the VDD, MCLR, and VSS lines between them (with
> MCLR in the center)??

It adds a lot more complexity and potential error when others have to do
this.  Also the RJ-12 connectors crimp onto a predetermined cable that has
no provisions for extra conductors.  With a lot of kludging, you could make
up something like that, but then everyone who uses it would have to also.
You can't just tell someone to go use and ICD2.

In most cases two caps and a resistor add a lot less cost to a board than
whatever connector you are using for the programming interface.  In cases of
high volume extremely cost and space sensitive products, there will usually
be pogo pins connecting to blank pads on the bottom of the board from a
custom prodution fixture.  In those case it is only a tiny extra burden to
add two caps and a resistor to the fixture as close to the pogo pins as
possible.

> Don't change the order of signals on the
> connectors, just in the cable.

That is not easy to do with RJ type connectors, which is what you get from
the ICD2 and some programmers.  On both the EasyProg and ProProg I provided
the standard ICD2 connector for compatibility, but also 6 pin connectors for
custom cables that have an extra ground line between PGC and PGD.


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