Looking at it, I wonder if it might be in the comparison space as "not equal, but trivially convertible"? Maybe a nicer-to-look-at alternative to ~=
x: <foo>
y: "foo"
>> x = y
== #[false]
>> x <-> y
== #[true]
>> x ~= y ; uglier...
== #[true]
The idea of it looking kind of like <> isn't necessarily that bad, because it's saying they're not actually equal.
In any case, I'm still rather opposed to the idea that:
rebol2>> (first [a]) = (first [a:])
== true
Case sensitivity is bad enough, but having the natural and easy-to-reach-for equality operator say a SET-WORD! and a WORD! are equal is a bridge too far. Also note:
rebol2>> [a] = [a:]
== false
Anyway, just wanted to mention the possibility of using a newly opened-up arrow word for a comparison purpose...