When reading the responses here I have to think that you're some kind of sado-masochists guys
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I always despised blobbing for obvious reasons, lag and lack of individual involvement.
I disagree on your first supposed rule LordjOX, I had plenty of fun out solo, but this was when the server had 7k people top. If it changed so badly, that you cant go out alone if you know the tricks then the game is in a wrong state and I am glad I didn't come back.
Also, maybe you didn't meet any class pirate players that wouldn't from an equal sized fight, maybe those kind of players are extinct. I remeber the same argument from a local chat back in 2004 where a CA corp fleet met us in G-5EN2 and they said we would not attack, we would run, which we didn't, so I guess it's more about what kind of pirates you meet.
In the endless small fleet versus blob debate my perception was that people who wouldn't be able to compete versus small fleets blobbed, leaving the small fleets no choice but to hit and run.