Actually the main reason I hate imperial is that when Aussieland went metric, I gave away all my imperial measuring devices... and I had a lot. Then when my woodworking experience advanced, I started importing a bucketloads of Yankee stuff not available locally... and it was all bloody imperial... AND I had to re-buy all my imperial measuring tools, no one was prepared to return their "indian gifts".
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD