The effect of response complexity on simple RT, first reported by Henry and Rogers (H&R), is a robust phenomenon for complexity measured by the number of chunks in a multiple-chunk response. However, there are problems with the memory drum theory H&R used to account for this result, and no fully satisfactory alternative explanation has been developed after 50 years of effort. Thus, research related to the H&R article is likely to continue. The major theme of this article concerns contradictions surrounding the simple RT paradigm, both regarding the memory drum theory and with respect to replicating the empirical result. (Contains 3 notes.)