They arent going to fix the rating system anytime soon. Too many people are still paying for their product, and they (WIS/GD) still see the game engine as the great problem area. I think they are taking a micro vision of their products problems rather than a macro vision. I have made a nuisance of myself recently to illustrate the same thing. In Heisman this past season, my Fresnot St. team was, after 12 games, 10-2 with a SOS of 110; Cent Michigan was also 10-2, SOS 114. I have just won a road game over a bad conf opponent 33-0, and LOST 11 points in RPI, Cent Michigan had just lost at HOME to a mediocre Sim AI team, lost only five RPI spots. My two losses were to the #3 or #4 team (Penn St) and to Wyoming, who went on to a bowl. So, at that point in the seaon, although our teams were almost identical in regards to on-field results, Cent Michigan was #39 in RPI, I was #56 after having gotten to #45.
What diffrence does it all make, you may rhetorically ask (I know Cydrych will)? Well, beacuse of the very large difference in RPI between two very similar quality teams, Cent Michigan went on to play and lose a level three bowl, while my Fresno State team went on and won it's level one bowl game--- against the Sim AI team Cent Mich had lost to in wek 12. No big deal right? Well, Cent Michigan gets bonus points, Fresno State doesnt. Also, the guy running Cent Michigan gets a "bumP' I suppose in looking for a better job, should he choose to, since he made it to a much higher level bowl.
By the way, the two teams records against common opponents? Fresno State 3-0, Cent Michigan 2-1.
Similar situation have happened to me too regularly in my GD "career" to NOT complain about it. The lack of bonus points takes "money" out of my pocket. My team produced results every bit as good as Cent Michigan, yet his team was rewarded, mine wasnt. That sort of situation goes right to the heart of the problem with GD.... if there is supposed to be a level playing field, I am not getting the chance to play on it. It wasnt the oddball game results that finally caused me to toss my hands up in the air and move on, it was the inequitable ratings that did it. I see no indication they are looking to fix the ratings/RPI part of their game in anything like the forseeable future.
So, I bought Grey Dog, and am now a GD "expatriate" getting ready to play in at least one of the on-line leagues orgainzed through their website by owners of their software.
For those sticking with GD, these forums will continually be filled with complaints about the same game issues and problems..... and isnt that one of the definitions of insanity, to do the same thing in the same way over and over (playing GD) and expecting different results?