awk

[Ken Greer]

	Path: hplabs!hao!seismo!harpo!ulysses!allegra!alice!rob
	Subject: awk
	awk deliberately places all output redirected to the same file name
	onto the same file descriptor. it is not a bug; do not change awk's
	behaviour.

The current (bizarre) action is not documented.  Additionally, the awk
documentation indicates that the >, >>, and | work the same as in
the shell.  So what's the basis of your claim?
-- 
Ken Greer