Even more than that, in a predicated chaining scenario, when computing the mask from a vector "compare", the groupings are troublesome to think through how to implement, which is itself a bad sign. It is suspected that chaining will be complex or adversely affected by certain combinations of element width.
+(see [[masked_predicate_chaining]])
+
+
Overall this idea which initially seems to save resources brings together all the least favourable aspects of other proposals and combines all of them!