[comp.sys.intel] Why are segment selectors arranged the way they are?

tim@ism780c.UUCP (11/22/86)

On a 286, a selector has 13 bits of index, two bits of protection
information, and a bit that tells if it is local or global.

Why is the index in the high order bits instead of the low order
bits?  It seems to me that if the index had been put in the low
order bits, then one could simulate a linear address space by making
consecutive segments be 64k, thus getting rid of the biggest objection
most people have to the 286.
-- 
emordnilapanalpanama

Tim Smith       USENET: sdcrdcf!ism780c!tim   Compuserve: 72257,3706
                Delphi or GEnie: mnementh