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There is a poster on here, on since 2009, who just doesn't show up on SS. And I've played him in tournaments so that's not the problem.
No issues with his username either, it doesn't contain any _ or - etc.
To be clear, it is not "cheating" as it is within the rules.
Also, it is not - generally - used in the manner described, as it only works in MTT's & SNG's. So players tend to "look them up" on SS AFTER they find themselves sharing tables, rather than as a means to select weak opponents.
There is no excuse for abusing players based on their SS stats. SS don't permit that, nor do Sky Poker. If you see it, report it, & offenders may lose their chat rights.
Anyone can block their SS stats, they don't need to be a member to do it, just go to SS & "Options", it is all there.
Why do Sky Poker "allow" it? They don't, as such, but short of really complicated legal battles, it is very hard to stop. SS TAKE the data, Sky Poker (& other sites) do not "give it to them". SS then re-bundle it, collate it & sell it. It's my understanding that Sky Poker are not much keen on what SS do, but there's not really much they can do to prevent it. A complex legal issue, & I suppose it could be resolved, but all in all, its not deemed to be that big an issue meriting all the legal kerfuffle.
I would, personally, strongly advise anyone who is uncomfy with SS displaying their stats to "opt out", it's completely free, & takes just a few seconds.
Let's take it further. Should a football team be given the right to have their previous results kept secret and demand that their opponents aren't allowed to see the latest league table before they play a match?
How far do you take the right to keep competition that happens in public a secret? Where do you draw the line?
Personally I have no problem with Sharkscope. It's a useful tool for a regular tournament player, self analysis being one of the main ones.
All arguments to ban it are shot down in flames by the opt-out imo.
That's a little unfair, I certainly never said or implied that.
It is a useful tool when used properly. It is true some people use it maliciously, to mock others. It's a small percentage, but as I noted earlier, that is against the rules of both SS & Sky Poker. If you see such examples, you should report them to Sky Poker who will take the appropriate action.
I can't speak for those who, in your words, "moan when they cannot see a blocked player", but I've rarely seen such complaints myself. You will need to address that to those guys.
SS is, in reality, replicated in the "Live" scene, by THM (The Hendon Mob) or, as it is now named, GPI, or Global Poker Index. Same thing, anyone who cashes in a notable Live Event goes on their Database. But, as with SS, you CAN opt out, & many do.
In both cases, players CAN opt out if they wish. That's the key point.
Baffled that anyone could think its a form of cheating. If you don't want your stats out there for all to see then just block yourself.
It's also fun to catch people out telling porky pies.
Everything is cool, you & me are like......
I done so for many of the reasons mentioned here...
Privacy - I didn't see the need to give away extra info to anyone within or outside of poker. I get that this is a 2 way street within poker and if I am going to look up other people I should then be prepared, at least morally, to let them see mine. However, I do not use HUD's and many people I played against did. This meant they could see all my info at a glance at the table but I could not see theirs.
For profit reasons - If enabling the stats means that people are less likely to sit with you when you are looking for SNG action then it seems a no brainer.
I only unblocked my stats a matter of weeks ago as I had stopped playing there and decided that at some point in the future I may consider live staking to reduce variance if I was playing a lot of events.
It would be interesting to know the percentage mix of reasons as to why people block their stats.
I would imagine more good SNG players would block their stats compared to good MTT players. Simply as table selection is much easier to manipulate in SNG's than MTT's where you are randomly assigned tables.