[...]you can't change people's perceptions. If you mean that by officially banning account selling so that people looking in will have a better impression, you might be right. But, as far as the internals, we have explained why it causes issues. It is unenforcable in a fair way. Your argument has been, just because its hard to enforce doesn't mean you shouldn't try, if I'm now understanding you correctly. That just isn't the case in this situation. Officially banning accounts couldn't discourage account sellers in any way. If we ban their accounts, they would just make another. They aren't motivated by a single account that we could ban, they are motivated by a collection of accounts that they own.
Exactly. It looks really bad. You're probably been around this long enough for the effect to have dulled, but try to imagine what it looks like to the outsiders. And I don't think I'm unique when I tell you I've been here for YEARS before I knew that accounts are being bought and sold. I've heard about it occasionally, but *sincerely* assumed that it was either someone trolling. It simply hasn't donned on me that it was allowed.
What makes you think that new users know it's happening? (since the "it's better for n00bs to see it happening in the open" argument has been used)
Has it been this bad in the past?
But anyway, banning the sale of accounts *ON THIS FORUM*, and banning those who facilitate such dealing (escrow services, etc.) would do wonders for public perception.
Publicly distancing ourselves from it is also important.