In reply to UKC News: Just seen Jack Geldard's explanation here
http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=67844: 'The grade HXS is due to the route being very safe, but very very hard, therefore difficult to assign an E Grade to.'
suppose it would be hard to assign E-grade... but thought HXS was quite a strange alternative, since usually thought it meant 'if you fall, gear prob won't hold and you will hurt yourself.'
if you see grades like HS 5a... why not E4 7a?
anyway, watevs.. not a big deal, just interested.