The original (version 1) specification of SNMP has the following definition of a new type:

Gauge :: = [APPLICATION 2] IMPLICIT INTEGER (0..4294967295)

The standard includes the following explanation of the semantics of this type:

This application-wide type represents a non-negative integer, which may increase or decrease, but which latches at a maximum value.This standard specifies a maximum value of 2³²-1 (4294967295 decimal) for gauges.

Unfortunately, the word latch is not defined, and this has resulted in two different interpretations.
The SNMPv2 standard cleared up the ambiguity with the following definition:
The value of a Gauge has its maximum value whenever the information being modeled is greater than or equal to that maximum value; if the information being modeled subsequently decreases below the maximum value, the Gauge also decreases.

a. What is the alternative interpretation?

b. Discuss the pros and cons of the two interpretations.