Speaking as a low-ranker, if I set up a game, who ever joins, great. In truth, if high ranking players join, even greater.
High ability players joining lots of low-rank games for the sole purpose of farming points lacks class entirely.
This seems to me to be more of a matter to consider in your perception of the farming high-ranker than it is something which it is possible or desirable to regulate by changing the rules on who can join games. The difficulty is how to differentiate between high ranking players who join a given game for the prime purpose of having fun, and those who are out on the farm.
I think that (differentiating between those who are playing and those who are abusing) is a question of fact and degree. It (farming) being against the rules, report concerns and let the judges of those matters decide whether warnings or other sanctions should issue.
I would absolutely hate if high ranking players were prevented from joining a game which I started, or one started by another low ranking player which I had joined. I would also hate if I was prevented from joining an otherwise public game because the players already in consisted of high rankers.
Also, there is a learning curve involved here, and one which everyone who actually takes to the site picks up on (what kind of games not to set up as public, who to foe etc). Yes this potentially means some players gain rank exclusively/primarily by farming, moving on to new noobies who have not yet realised how best to enjoy the site as their various victims get wise.
They...are...sad.
p.s. perhaps additional content on this issue could be inserted into the welcome pm that new recruits get, so as to hasten their progression on that learning curve.
