That is like saying multiplication is an abuse of addition. Avoiding needless work is a basic optimization technique.
False equivalency fallacy; as expected by the likes of you. An exploit is an exploit; that is an undeniable fact.
Optimization is not the same as an exploit. Also just exactly how can SegWit block AsciBoost?
It does not block it entirely. It blocks the covert usage of it. Segwit changes the block header in a specific way, which prevents the covert usage of Asicboost. In fact, Asicboost as is implemented in current Bitmain devices is incompatible with a lot of potential upgrades (which change the block header).Since Greg Maxwell is the posterchild for integrity, and has never tried to mislead anyone in his life, it is safe to take his word for it without any evidence. /s
He's certainly more trustworthy than the likes of Ver, Jihan, Peter R and the other charlatans. It would appear he is more trustworthy than Landa too ... at least he appears to be doing his own thinking.
You really are trying to make something out of nothing or you are just being a parrot. Why don't you take some time and actually write a crypto miner and learn what you are talking about. I've actually written two different miners. The first one was for Proto Share mining and I used it for months. The second one is for cryptonight and I'm currently using it. Both of these were vastly more optimized than the ASICBOOST you are complaining about. (Otherwise there really isn't any point to writing your own miner.) Not doing more work than is necessary is just good optimization.
If you really had a valid complaint that made sense, it would be focusing on the patent, not the technique. That is where there is a possible valid argument.