Just realized why I am getting up so early these days. I am in the Atlantic time zone, and so am an hour earlier than the rest of you!
Also, Queen, grey type is considered artsy by a lot of graphics people. Even some print magazines are using it. In addition, it is used in some of the newer Word templates for documents. I have to constantly remind my students that I want their papers in 12 point standard business fonts such as Times Roman or Arial and in BLACK ink so I can read the darn things!!! I have literally had to highlight an entire paper and change the ink color.
Nobody appreciates our old eyes. The only satisfaction I get is to realize that someday the people who design those forms will have to get bifocals and understand our complaints. And don't even get me started on having to squint to read fast food menus posted on too-small type!