I tend to find.....the higher ranked players (say 1600+) seem to want to swap queens when it becomes possible....and will do so really early on......but when it comes to swapping off bishop for bishop or knight for knight when the opportunity presents....they don't tend to do this so much.....what do you all think?

lol serious posts only:p haha....i've been to calgary!! awsome place!!!! challenge me if you like:)....omg off topic already ... tsk!

lol is fine....i always thought higher players were just chicken for swapping off queens early! if i have my queen on the board, i always feel powerful and confident of winning (maybe misplaced haha) even if i'm a piece or two down! good point about minor imbalances!

I try to exchange my queen for a piece of lower value - without sacrificing positional integrity, of course.

 Actually it is the lower ranked players who have an 'attitude' issue which clouds their logical play. The better players might be happy with an equal-material swap (including Queens) if the opponent is also left with, say, doubled isolated pawns. Lesser players are happy to do the same (but not with queens),thus they understand basic manouvres yet have an unnecessary attitude about the Queen.