indeed Gummo, but /.echo -q functions as /noop does and is what we used to use back before its introduction :P there was also this form which was common with $regsub():

//var %x, %y = $regsub( ... , %x)

$regsubex() made our lives easier in that respect ;P in this case though, the unique functionality of $regsubex() is required since Ford uses $chr(\t) in the substitution parm. $regsub() does not easily lend itself to being used in this way, which is why $regsubex() was so eagerly requested and wholly welcomed as an addition to 6.17.