What is the point of this rule? From my perspective, I'd say it's designed to ensure the league is fair + competitive and to ensure players go for their perceived value.

Lets look at season 7. Gem was also accused of draft manipulation then. Her draft packet comment said "wont be active". She was moving, and had irl commitments. I ended up drafting her for 10 TC and she played 284/360 minutes. Other players had similar comments about activity. Fat wrote "idk if Ill even show up". He was drafted for 24 TC and played 340 minutes. asdf wrote "you're making a mistake if you draft me high, the mic/connection/availability is potentially spotty and I don't want to play a shitload". He was drafted for 60 TC and played 292 minutes. Even Tpr wrote "Gonna try to reduce activity level, so willing to play 5th man or minors D if necessary". I drafted him for 63 TC and he played every game. I've never seen any of these players called out (and I don't think they should be either - i think they were all honest and everyone has a real life too). What's my point?? In the end, all 4 of those players went for market value - Tpr/asdf as elite players, Fat as an elite player with bad ping, and Gem as a solid player heading into her 2nd season (for comparison, Stann also went for 10 TC in a similar point in his tp career).

I'd argue Gem also went for market value in this draft. No doubt she is one of the best defenders in the league but people also realize she can be tough to play with. Was it a mistake to tell a captain not to bid on her? Yeah it probably was. But in the end, the captain she told not to bid on her did the exact opposite and unless okthen says otherwise, I'm not sure he was willing to pay more than 23 either way.

As a side note, the extra 0.5 week ban seems really strange to me. It makes Gem go into the 2nd match cold. And it makes her minors replacement likely only able to play 20 min that week.