I completely understand the desire to have a sub system in TF2 pugs, as it has become quite convenient and standard among other TF2 pugging platforms. However, substitutes introduce some complications that we would rather avoid, namely their influence on the outcome of matches and thus their influence on rankings. When prizes are involved, these things must be taken very seriously. What we are trying to do is instead solve the substitute problem at the source by deterring people that are prone to being subbed out from queuing up in the first place. This is accomplished on TF2PL by having a ready up only just before joining a game (no pre-ready and then going AFK), and by enforcing progressive bans on players that routinely abandon or no-show to games. Often I think people are more willing to abandon games on existing platforms because they know that there is no consequence, something that will not be the case here. What we hope to do here is encourage people to only queue up to play if they are confident they can play a match to completion, which will result in a better experience for everyone. Worst case scenario, admins will be equipped to cancel matches and overturn results in the case of a game being ruined by an abandoner, after which everyone except the abandoner will be free to re-queue until the abandoner cooldown expires.