<?=$value?> as a shortcut to <?php echo $value ?> not working

Hi I'm trying to get the <?=$value?> as a shortcut to <?php echo $value ?> working but having no luck. I've checked the manual where this is mentioned (http://www.php.net/manual/function.echo.php) but can't find any mention of others having problems. I suspect it is because I have the short_open_tag option turned off, as I am using XHTML (XML). I notice that turning the asp_tags on would allow me to use <%= $value %>, but having to use a different tag for that one command is just asking for bugs. Given we should be moving towards XML and XHTML, is there anyway this great shortcut could be made to work even with short tags turned off? I can't find anything in the XML specs that would prevent "<?=" being allowed as a tag. Is there any particular place to make such feature requests? Andy Warwick