> mathematically 0.9999... is less than 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0.999...

"In mathematics, the repeating decimal 0.999… ... denotes a real number equal to one. In other words, the notations 0.999… and 1 represent the same real number. This equality has long been accepted by professional mathematicians and taught in textbooks."

Note the "real number" part, of course. If you use a non-real number system, more power to you.