I use EDDN for two main reasons when I set off on a journey: 1. To look at station types in my destination system (which I could also do in-game). 2. To look at 'last known prices' (which I cannot do in game, although as Ben Ryder points out there are some inférences I could get from in-game data). The prices I see on EDDN are not always correct.
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I personally find it acceptable use, also for 2 reasons. 1. If we are a Pilot Federation, then as others have said, we would share information on 'last known price'. I think of it as a bulletin board in the PF office in each station, where we pin-up 'last known price' for all to see. And although one could 'chat' in-game, that is not always possible, and as yet there is no sense of a meeting place for such discussions in game. 2. I think a 'last known price' tool should be in-game, as should a personal visit log, and customised route plotting (ie selecting multiple stops on a single route not just a/b economical/fastest routes). If they were, I would not use EDDN in all likelihood. And I remain hopeful that they will come at one point (on the other hand, FD may well think - well, why focus on those atm, when there are these great Tools out there already).
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I do have sympathy for the OP position though, and in particular the refined view he posted (quoted below). Min/Maxing is not what I am doing (I am getting a last know set of prices, and then setting my own routes, doing my own plotting, and they are rarely the most profitable - but then again, pure profit is rarely my motivation). And were I min/maxing, then I would find that boring and a grind. Still, if that is what floats your boat, then that is up to you. Any app that actaully hacks your ship or modules or adjusts your bank blanace - that is stone cold cheating. These other apps like trade Tools, price sharing, community xls that share shipyard and outfitting, EDShipyard & Coriolis.io - I do not see those in the same way. They are useful in the absence of in-game Tools, they are community driven and not proprietory (to my knowledge) which must surely be a good thing, and - like many things in life - I suspect if you overuse & abuse them, then you'll end up resenting them (and boring yourself). But, again - your choice.
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And again, I reiterate that the price you see on any tool fed by JSON, like EDDN, can be wrong. Sometimes very wrong. I would not want to see 'live' prices in-game, sent across thousands of LY instantly. That would seem a bit much. I prefer the last known price approach, with the price decaying in time/reliability depending on a systems distance from you.
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I think additional comments are in order:
* First, I don't hate tools themselves. They are just tools. Some of them fulfills functionality players wait for being implement in the game (Commander's Log type of apps), so I understand intention. And even with trading tools I kinda don't hate on them...But here is what follows
* I strongly dislike (would be right word) what massive information *sharing* does to game and ecosystem of the game. Using web trading tools is standard practice, and that's issue. Logging your own trading deals and prices as you travel is huge thumbs up from me and I want to see such functionality in game, however let's be honest here - getting some tips from friends about trading routes is one thing, just jumping on web trading tool as ways to amass wealth in short time is another. And unfortunately I have heard last scenario unfolding too many times;
* I don't like such tools in general, for any game. It takes away challenge and mystery. And what's worse - young players are introduced to them asap and made believe that it is a norm;
It's not.
![[VR] Mad Mike](https://forums-cdn.zaonce.net/data/avatars/m/27/27910.jpg?1553527108){kind=avatar}
