Re: Question about: 4.1.1 Integer representation

On 18 October 2013 09:09, Roberto Peon <grmocg@gmail.com> wrote:
> A fair bit of efficiency is gained by allowing the n-bit prefix to encode
> values since most values for within that first byte.
> The rest of the int is in a well known and well supported format.

That's the key.  Lower efficiency for larger values is acceptable if
you can get more into a single byte.  That is 255 values in the first
byte before continuations kick in, against 127 values.  Most values we
have fit into that first byte and we want to keep it that way.