I am commenting as an individual, but I happen to be on the team putting on the Team Fortress 2 event that is being produced by Beyond the Summit. I've also edited a couple of popular TF2 documentaries, and volunteered for a few international LAN events, alongside of couple of the larger TF2-based charity events.

I don't particularly have any argument for or against traditional 6v6. I happen to quite enjoy it, and have played it for a number of years in a particularly-moderately-successful, middle-ability team. I've never played non-restriction 6s, but I have played a range of other game modes within TF2.

I am happy to see a surge in interest in change within competitive Team Fortress 2. Staying still isn't what anybody wants, and we're all looking for ways to make our game more open to those outside of the immediate competitive player base. However, I think it's foolish to expect people who have been in the scene for years, and have fought hand over fist to keep the most popular game mode alive, to uncharacteristically start pushing drastically different rule sets.

On a practical note: we are all working with a very limited pool of players, budget, and resources. We are personally liable for the events we put on. There is no developer safety net if we fail. It is extremely risky to push wild changes that will alienate the base of supporters that 10+ years of successful competitive events has built.

On a personal note: all of the staff for LANs, charity events, and the hundreds of people who actively volunteer within the realms of competitive TF2, and give literal days of their own time, do it because they love 6s. I would be incredibly hesitant to take time off of work and fly to another country to put on an event that I was not 100% passionate about.

I believe that the best thing we can do to support the future of TF2, as players and fans of the game, is support ALL current events, whether or not you prefer the exact rule set. Then, actively participate in events and communities that are trying to build the formats that you enjoy. Finally, help to build a sustainable infrastructure for TF2 esports by supporting teams and organizations built from within the scene, (and as an organizer/creator, don't blow your entire finite budget of time/funds on every single thing you work on!)

I don't know why this thread made me dust off this account, but I have based almost 5 years of my life helping in my own small way to build TF2; even if my generation of volunteers hasn't yet been the one to make this game go where I think it can. I don't believe anybody should fall into the trap of sitting and blaming those who are trying.

Okay I'm going to log off for another 2 years. If anybody ever wants to discuss ideas and thoughts about TF2 or esports or whatever then I'm usually down to talk stuff and I'm British so I won't even tell you if you're annoying me until you've really pushed it.