quote sam:
But come on. "People like these" are playing the game by the rules, and they're playing the best game possible, which is, after all, the point. If it's upsetting to lose to someone who outplayed you, there's an easy answer: Don't play.

and quote grishny:
But I still think it sucks that, by the luck of the draw, strong teams who've been playing the game the way (I assume) you intended it to be played are being eliminated this early through the use of guile and trickery. Which is why I'm glad that the refinement process isn't over.

i know that these guys are still playing by the rules, but informally. its kinda like attending a really fancy dinner and wearing your metallica t-shirt. it is allowed but nobody likes seeing it. nobody playing this game wants to be beaten in some cheap way. i have a pretty strong team right now (my next battle is gonna be tough), and it just shames me to think that this fine team can be brought down by some idiot method like that.
all we can hope for is that the people doing this will come to their senses and stop this cruel behavior.

thats all i have to say. i never thought that i'd generate this much conversation in this post, though.