I have strong opinions about the EDH Rules Committee. This is no secret. I don't like that they are self-governed. I don't like that they claim community affiliation. I don't think it is proper that they be allowed to make judgments about what other people should consider fun or acceptable. I don't think that any person should promote their personal ideology as being 'the spirit of the format'...or really anything else. A person's opinion is just that, an opinion. Legitimate and equal only insofar as it respects the opinions of others and doesn't do anything to stifle them.
I agree that the RC did good work in establishing and publicizing a unified set of rules for a developing format. This helped EDH achieve wider appeal and solidify itself as a format across a world of playgroups. I think that is as far as this crusade needed to be taken. I am about to go on the most official record I can: The Banned List is a mistake.
It is a mistake to even think about leveling sanctions in a non-sanctioned format. Makes sense when you say it out loud like that. It is a mistake to allow an unsanctioned authority to make decisions on your behalf. EDH is a casual format. It does not require oversight, authority, or even a guiding principle in order to thrive. People do it because they think it is fun. If it is no longer fun then people SHOULD NOT play it. You don't need to change the rules just to make sure they keep playing the format.
This is in direct opposition to how sanctioned formats are run. Wizards and its affiliates need formats to remain healthy, interesting, and fun in order to keep tournament attendance up, increase product sales, stabilize secondary markets, and to attract and retain a player base. EDH has none of these concerns. Wizards' organized play program and the DCI cooperate extensively: collecting and sharing information about tournament attendance and results, sales, and player feedback with the goal of improving the game. EDH has no such information network. It is administrated by a small group of self-appointed people. Experienced and knowledgeable people, but also biased and jaded people.
If none of the above served to inspire you to take control of your own kitchen table then allow me a final word on that subject. You know your game best. You know your friends and your play group. Communicate with them, engage them, experience them, educate them, and allow them to educate you. You decide you never want to play against another Emrakul, then don't. If your friends agree with your sentiments, then you might just have a community of like minded players growing. This occurs organically and does not need to be imposed by a group of people you don't know and are unlikely to meet.
This diatribe was rather short by my own standards, but fear not. As the title suggested, there will be more parts, for I have yet more to say on this matter. Including and most importantly: What role a banned list can serve, what reasons a card is or should be banned, and my thoughts on the cards that the RC has banned and their logic behind it.
-GG
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