I was just reflecting on Visual SourceSafe and I think I realized something -- you shouldn't have to get the latest version of a file to check it out. When you check the file in, it merges with the latest version without changing your local copy. This is similar to the "always checked out" model of CVS but doesn't eliminate the usefulness of "seeing who has what checked out".

Anyway, this would get rid of the annoying problem we have now, which is making sure that you notice if you end up with the latest version when you check out a file. Because if you did end up with the latest version, it probably depends on other code changes that you don't have because you haven't done a full Get. Not to mention the headaches we get from VS.NET when we get the latest version of one or more project files, particularly if you're trying to modify one of them...

I wonder if SourceGear Vault allows a check out without an implicit Get...