Here is the way I see this:
The community wanted a loan system in place.
MA did not provide a loan system in a reasonable time.
The community developed a loan system on their own initiative. They developed trust in the community and offered good service at a fair price.
Services got offered, but
fair price is IMHO debateable... did it back then and got bashed for it - so i skip that part here.
MA finally added a loan system.
The final proceedings are still unknown to us 'normal' users. Unsure if the winners of the bank action are better informed yet about the exact proceedings. But all hints point into 'gimme item as collateral and i give you PED against interest' (=pawnshop).
MA needs to protect the financial investment of those that purchased bank licenses.
Why?
It happened here more than once that an auction winner had to see that his investment dropped in price (minor tp chip anyone?).
Entropia Universe is dynamic.
That's the line which is fed to players by support on a daily basis.
Why not this time pass this line to 5 more customers complaining about unexpected twists of the percieved game mechanics?
In the past MA has said that they wish to create a platform for us, the community, to live in.
Also known as 'good old times'?
Yet here we see MA acting like a gov't.
Which can be good or bad. That depends on the view the goernment has on on it's relation between itself and the population.
They are saying they need to pass laws in order to protect the citizens from dishonest traders.
The road to hell is plastered with good intentions.
Ideally an government is there for the people. Problem is that there comes a point where a government get that self-absorbed that the interests of the population is lost in the process. Normally then the population starts to feel threatened, then the government starts to oppress them to keep control.
Nothing different happens currently in RL in many countries.
Just look at the news from around the world.
I'm sure that in the long run MA's actions are for the good of us all.
Only one quote comes into my mind here: Freedom is slavery.
Yet, I feel troubled by the move.
Same here.
Hopefully we won't see more of this.
Point is: the longer you take the crap you're fed - the worse it'll get.
As soon as you stop taking it the worst part is over.
It seems that EF should shut down and lock many of the services threads that offer loans as now they are seen as 'scamming' attempts.
It would be sad to see EF (and a related service on which EF is based upon) shut down because of lack of users left.
Tussi