Controversial interpretations of the functioning and evolution of (radio) pulsars are discussed and confronted with the constraints. It is argued that (i) polarized e± bunches are ejected from near the polar caps at high Lorentz factors γ ≳ 102, that (ii) coherent radio pulses are emitted by them during transit to the outer magnetosphere via curvature radiation, (iii) in the shape of (transverse) fan beams, that (iv) there is no indication of magnetic field decay (or buildup), and that (v) pulsars die either by alignment or by interstellar quenching.

The so-called “millisecond” pulsars (outside globular clusters) are likely to be an abundant, young population of fast-born pulsars.