Problem: no way to discard a specification without drawbacks

Simply deleting specification is problematic in two ways:

1. Confusion over specification number: should we reuse it?
2. Loss of potentially valuable ideas or findings.

Solution: re-introduce Deleted state

2/README.md

@@ -105,6 +105,11 @@ When stable specifications are replaced by newer draft specifications, they beco
 
 When deprecated specifications are no longer used in products, they become **retired** specifications. Retired specifications are part of the historical record. They should not be changed except to indicate their replacements, if any. Retired specifications have no contractual weight.
 
+### Deleted Specifications
+
+Deleted specifications are those that have not reached maturity (stable) and were discarded. They should not be used and are only kept for their historical
+value. Only Raw and Draft specifications can be deleted.
+
 ## Editorial control
 
 
@@ -153,6 +158,7 @@ It is RECOMMENDED to use color coding to indicate specification's status. Color
 * ![stable](http://rfc.unprotocols.org/spec:2/COSS/stable.svg)
 * ![deprecated](http://rfc.unprotocols.org/spec:2/COSS/deprecated.svg)
 * ![retired](http://rfc.unprotocols.org/spec:2/COSS/retired.svg)
+* ![retired](http://rfc.unprotocols.org/spec:2/COSS/deleted.svg)
 
 
 ## Appendix B. Metainformation

2/deleted.svg

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="94" height="20"><linearGradient id="b" x2="0" y2="100%"><stop offset="0" stop-color="#bbb" stop-opacity=".1"/><stop offset="1" stop-opacity=".1"/></linearGradient><mask id="a"><rect width="94" height="20" rx="3" fill="#fff"/></mask><g mask="url(#a)"><path fill="#555" d="M0 0h43v20H0z"/><path d="M43 0h51v20H43z"/><path fill="url(#b)" d="M0 0h94v20H0z"/></g><g fill="#fff" text-anchor="middle" font-family="DejaVu Sans,Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif" font-size="11"><text x="21.5" y="15" fill="#010101" fill-opacity=".3">status</text><text x="21.5" y="14">status</text><text x="67.5" y="15" fill="#010101" fill-opacity=".3">deleted</text><text x="67.5" y="14">deleted</text></g></svg>

2/lifecycle.uml

@@ -10,19 +10,30 @@ skinparam activity {
   BackgroundColor<< Begin >> Olive
   BorderColor Peru
 }
-"Create" -right-> "<size:20>RAW</size>
-                   Use: mockups
-                   Goal: design it"
--right-> "<size:20>DRAFT</size>
-                   Use: prototypes
-                   Goal: prove it"
--down-> "<size:20>STABLE</size>
-                   Use: products
-                   Goal: deploy it"
--left-> "<size:20>DEPRECATED</size>
-                  Use: products
-                  Goal: replace it"
--left-> "<size:20>RETIRED</size>
-                  Use: historical
-                  Goal: study it"
+|Raw|
+:Create;
+:Use: mockups, Goal: design it;
+if (useful) then (yes)
+|Draft|
+:Use: prototypes, Goal: prove it;
+:Iterate;
+if (successful) then (yes)
+|Stable|
+:Use: products, Goal: deploy it;
+:Cosmetic improvements;
+|Deprecated|
+:Use: products, Goal: replace it;
+|Retired|
+:Use: historical, Goal: study it;
+detach
+else (no)
+|Deleted|
+:Archive;
+detach
+endif
+else (no)
+|Deleted|
+:Archive;
+detach
+endif
 @enduml