Cisco CCIE Recertification and the CCDE written test

I just had to recertify my CCIE status, which means the biennial trip to the testing center to relive the pain of the CCIE written test. I find the CCIE written to be in some ways more difficult than the CCIE lab, ok maybe not harder, but different.

I don't find the written test to be based on particularly practical information, it is just memorization of some really detailed Cisco and general network details. Not command level per-se, but you do have to be able to read cisco configurations, especially routing protocols. Anyways, the level of detail seems to miss the point, For example:

If were to ask you about the function of a packet header, specifically the ip precedence bits, you could tell me any number of things about QOS. However, if I were to ask you how many bits long that header is, that isn't very practical or useful information. The latter is the issue with the written test today.

Of course the engineer in me wants to improve how I accomplish this necessary task, so I looked for options. I came across Cisco's newest expert level certification, the CCDE. The idea being that in contrast with the CCIE, which is focused on engineering hands on with Cisco equipment, the CCDE focuses on architect knowledge applied across multiple infrastructure domains (e.g., network, storage, voice, wireless, security). The CCDE, just as each of the CCIE tracks, has it's own written prequalification test. I also found that this is a accepted substitute for the CCIE written recertification test. My skills have been focused more on design and architecture than hands on with routers over the last few years, so this seemed a natural fit.

What's good: The CCDE contains a sprinkling of design questions, and most of more detailed-menutia type of questions (vs. the CCIE) are removed

What's not: The CCDE written shares about 80% content with the CCIE written and doesn't feel like it's own test yet