I'm a little confused.

Why is "Party's stance" so important all of a sudden? Their stance was against rakeback for 3 years, yet rakeback affiliates completely ignored that and set up rakeback plans anyway, despite the fact that their accounts could be in jeopardy. The risk/reward was just too great.

If Party releases some "player awards" program that is less than what is being offered now, what's to stop affiliates from doing things their own way? Eventually, player demand will set the precidence just like it did 3 years ago when Party threatened rakeback violators. IMO, nothing is any different right now. Yet, everyone is on the edge of their seats waiting for some "big decision" that is supposed to be coming from Party itself.

Originally, I thought against collusion, but now, I'm beginning to think that this whole Party Poker board meeting is just a bunch of rakeback affiliates and their crooked affiliate managers in a room together conjuring up some under-the-table deal for the players.