Does duping suck? Yes.
Should we let it ruin the time we get together as a community? No.
Duping of gold or items will continue regardless of rares festivals or not. It might be a bit slower, but really not by much. Someone who is going to sell an item at the festival will still sell it via these boards, the bank or a vendor. We can't even track many items as they change hands due to many behind closed door deals. I really just don't see how stopping the festivals helps US as a community.
Can I afford everything I want? Nope. Does inflating item prices suck? You are damn right it does.... but... I personally don't care because I'll still collect the items I want that is within my means. I'd love my own island irl or a brand new lexus, but that isn't in my financial means right now either. If we could afford everything we "want", than our items begin to lose personal value and the feeling we get when we obtain something we have long sought after is diminished. Pride with accomplishment. It shouldn't be how much something costs, but living within your means and ENJOYING WHAT YOU HAVE. I think even in RL, many people lose sight of this and get caught up with what they don't have instead of what they do.
I'm not one of the popular kids in this community. I'm pretty opinionated when I do speak, I'm a past moderator for this forum and I pretty much keep to myself socially. Not the greatest recipe to be one of the cool kids. Heh.
That being said. I'm going to keep collecting and do my best to enjoy what I have despite EA or a duper screwing up the rarity or value of my possessions. Sounds like your a good candidate to host a fest then. I myself will not accpet it anymore though. They had the recources to catch a boatload of dupers in the past, there is no reason they cant now. Maybe its time to put a hold on the next patch and new content and focus on the real issue in this game. Because there is a new crop of dupers and these guys are not sitting trying to stay unnoticed, they have taken over this forum and driven the rares market out of control. It has filtered beyond the rares scene and is starting to effect other common items in game as well. If you do not mind paying 60m for a transfer token then by all means turn a blind eye. Your right about one thing though, not having a fest will do nothing to the dupers. But maybe if this thread stays up long enough and enough people voice there concerns with this as well we can get the right people to take notice.
Assia Facts:
I do not buy gold.
I have attended the number of EM events that I can count on both hands... ever.
Most of my rares collection is stuff that means something to me, fits rp of a character or fits in my decor, rather than the flashiest, most expensive or most popular.
I make most my gold selling what most would consider poor man's rares.
I do not dupe, cheat or steal.
At last count , I have around a billion in liquid gold.
Not all that glitters is gold.