they don’t allow VPNs

Most likely to reduce the risk of ban-evading cheaters/griefers. Plus that most people usually avoid using a VPN when playing such games, due to the risk of increased latency.

For some reason, my steam ID wasn’t banned.

All of these plugins initiate only an IP ban, so the person is able to rejoin with their “real” IP address.

But you’ve actually tried asking for your Steam ID to be whitelisted? Shame that their admins don’t know how to/don’t want to do it.

Why not ask the server admin to whitelist your Steam ID? If you’re apparently a “regular” and don’t cause problems, I don’t see why they wouldn’t whitelist you.

I think the lack of profile-wide “karma” is one benefit, so there’s not as much incentive to farm imaginary internet points and such with the same old zingers. Who knows, but hopefully not.

How many of those thousands are actual good comments though? Last time I was there, I swear the majority of comments were from bots reposting the same comments that were in previous threads. It felt peak dead-internet.

The defense alliance is doing patrol missions, well within their own airspace. And when Russian pilots “get lost” and violate our airspace, is that also NATO’s fault? What’s the problem?