The issue here is that the token "$(<" is a special case of "$(" and
not a special case of "<" redirection. Docs under "Command
Substitution":
The substitution '$(cat FOO)' may be replaced by the faster '$(<FOO)'.
In this case FOO undergoes single word shell expansions (_parameter
expansion_, _command substitution_ and _arithmetic expansion_), but not
filename generation. No subshell is created.
Note "but not filename generation".
Appreciate the information. Not what I expected, but it is what it is. Was able to
use an alternate method in order to use redirection. I should probably reread all
of the man pages and hopefully absorb what I missed before.
Thank you.
Regards,
JIm