Hi That90skid, your [up]REP option is missing. You're the bad guy here, dude? Done something evil?And your p.message folder is full. So here goes: REP to you for(trying) to argue here, That90skid.
As to: Why(ever) trade in Open? Well, you don't have to, right? Switch modes, as you see fit, game the game, win. Go back to the "ALL GROUP" once your set and accomplished. No risk, high reward.
Logic implies, Frontier managed to cheat their own creation, linking Private groups and Open play the "ALL group". Avoidance behaviour. Open PVE (mode) as suggested by some, linked into the same Universe is an even better option,
to hurt Open. No, private groups are fine. Nothing bad about it. Even Open PVE would be OK, really not my cup of coffee, but if you must....Frontier should cut the cheaters out of the equation.
Make no mistake, cutting the community into ever smaller pieces, will lastly ruin Elite.
I advise Frontier to strengthen Open.
Keep your "privates" to yourself, don't mess with Open.
Discussions get things done, arguments don't. Why do you think people who do not like to play in Open are trying to "hurt" open. We do not want to "mess" with open at all, and the people you are complaining about are supposedly your own people... not those that play in Solo, not those that play in Private groups, but those who want to be "top dog bad hombre" in Open. You complain that they do this by going into other modes to get high level before coming back to open. Yet anyone is allowed to do this, Frontier said play your way... that is the way they are playing. If I have to accept that Griefing is legitimate playstyle then this is one as well. If you don't' like it then oh well.
Make no mistake, forcing the community into one instance will ruin Elite... Elite has run with the Mode system from the beginning and it is doing well... also the BGS is for all to play with not just for those in Open