Thanks Tomturbomatic...
even though the older Hotpoint models (like Ted's) aren't what I'm looking for, I've always wondered about that rack arrangement and you cleared that up for me. I always thought you had to lug the entire top rack off the bottom one, then set it on a counter to load the bottom. Having that center section lift out would be better than I was thinking. This is such a sweet dishwasher, but I'm kinda stuck for room, and that later model holds such sentimental value for me to have one just like my late Aunt's.