A question on Matlab compatibility

[Ron Crummett]

Hi -

I am currently taking a course in control theory and are assigned a 
number of Matlab-based problems.  One problem discusses the use of the 
'series' function, used to cascade two systems in series.  When I call 
this function in Octave, I get a warning that the function is obsolete, 
and to use 'sysmult' instead.  I am sure that 'sysmult' is a fine 
function, but if the goal with Octave is Matlab compatibility (I've been 
told more than once that it is), why create a similar function with a 
different name?  Why not improve the existing series function and keep 
the name?

-Ron