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IBM does not intend to provide a solution to this request at this time, so it is being closed.
Rather than rely on the data area, consider putting the standard keywords into a copy file. Keep the copy file in synch with the data area. For the cases where you want to use the data area and add additional keywords, code a /copy for the "standard" copy file and then add the additional keywords.
Jon, your idea about "last one wins" is something I've been thinking of for a long time, probably also with an option to "freeze" a keyword so some standard keywords in a copy file, like say COPYRIGHT, couldn't be overridden in a particular source file. But as far as I recall, I haven't ever heard anyone complain about not being able to repeat keywords like the OPTION keyword with multiple values; I seem to be the only person who's annoyed by that :-)
But that would be a separate RFE.
I'd like to vote against this one.
Default H specs are a legacy that frankly I'd be happy to see abolished altogether. I wish we'd never left it in the language when RPG IV was designed. It is so easy to include a standard set of options by including a /Copy at the start of the code - why confuse things with something the programmer can't easily look at?
If there are multiple standards in play for different types of program then have a standard /Copy for each.
If anything an override (rather than merge) might be more useful. That would basically allow a "last version of an option wins" scenario. That way you could override the standard setting - which appears to be what is requested here.