I'm not too sure how worthwhile it is to keep this thread rolling after the recent the changes, but I'm still reading anyway.
I'll restate: there have been "yes", "sometimes", "rarely" and "no" votes. All of them are valid. They come from different experiences and perspectives.
Somebody asked me a couple days ago in game what the "root cause" was of me deciding to post this... I am not 100% sure what the "correct" answer is to that.
In short, I guess it was meant to be what I considered to be a long overdue wake-up call to HCS. Feedback is necessary to correct errors.
In my "personal" case, response from HCS has always been reasonable. However, I rarely rock the boat. For years, I've been seeing some of the cases that are mentioned in this thread.
I understand the complicated nature of HCS setting down "strict guidelines" for players because somebody will always come to push the line.
However, the team needs to establish guidelines. There needs to be recourse for players that feel a decision was unjust.
Hence, I was pleased in seeing that Hoof sat down with the team to such an end. Hopefully, this will hope to reevaluate knee-jerk reactions.
Again, this thread was not created to "get what I want". Players need to heed what I think Hoof said quite clearly and what I fully agree with: It's impossible to make everyone happy.
However a player decides to play FS, they need to realize that there are others that play differently.
I'm often disgusted, quite literally, by the me-me attitude throughout FS. For me, it's juvenile and misguided.
I personally believe that HCS staff gets disgusted by the wave of complaints that roll in on every improvement they try to make. However, they need to be clear on their reaction to those.
HCS does not have an easy job. But it IS their job. I simply plead some objectivity on that front. Step back and let it wash over where relevant. Listen, but don't react. There "is" some input there.