[ih] Why a new etype of IPv6

[jtk at depaul.edu (John Kristoff)]

While on the subject of IPv6, I don't recall seeing any of the
official, or even unofficial for that matter, reasoning for
assigning a unique ethertype value (0x86dd versus 0x0800) for
the use of IPv6 over Ethernet / 802.3.  I would guess it amounts
to a "why not", but perhaps it is more involved than that.  Maybe
some specific performance or data link-specific reasoning?  Any
insight to satisfy my curiosity would be appreciated.

John