[Trumpet63]

Originally Posted by ScylaX

I wouldn't even have considered index style to be something valuable and conceivable before seeing that much people play like this.

I think you're asking, why don't people play using the meta-game's style. The short answer is, it's fun.

Another way of thinking of it, if a player is unsuccessful using the meta, i.e. spread, they might find themselves more at home using a different style or a different set of rules. In that case, they reduce the number of people that they are competing with, the implicit seriousness of what they're doing is reduced, and they are still being challenged by what they're doing. All signs point to a more enjoyable experience.

You can't really criticize the way a person plays a game.