Good points, indeed all measures have some unintended consequences. I will change the rules to dis-encourage some of the discussed behavior, but to offer a draw so that a game still counts I will leave unpunished, because it is also unfair that a player spent time and nerves on a game and would be then not rewarded because of a few seconds. I know, not an ideal situation.
The streaks may have the negative effects you described, but to have them is even worse, as it adds a huge element of luck, given the sometimes random pairing in arenas with few players. Why should someone get 2 points for free, if he had only a lucky streak of lower ranked opponents? Why should generally stronger players for which most of the players are easy to beat, get many extra points by the streaks? They have already a huge advantage by playing in the same league as the others. So in future I plan 2 separate skill leagues. Just need to work out the details.
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Thanks, I happen to know more about running gaming tournaments than about moving chess pieces around the board.
Adding luck is the sole purpose of Arena.
Why not disallowing Berserk under the some logic?
This is terrible idea. I assume the lower bracket still has cash prizes, begging strong players to maintain low-ranked alts. Weak players have still no shot at winning prizes meeting tough opposition - just on different accounts - crushing their confidence, ratings and plain out discouraging attendance in the long term. I would rather have it at no prizes.
BTW, giving a 1200 player a rare opportunity to play a titled opposition is just another feature (selling point if you wish) of Arenas. You do not even get that in the first round of a Swiss with all the bullshit bloodbath-seeding (you need to be in the middle of the field to get the star opponent in either first or second round).
Berserk allows more fun by handicapping uneven games. Streaks allow more fun by giving more people a shot at winning the tournament. If this series is supposed to find the champion rather than attracting large fields, you should - I repeat - avoid the Arena format in the first place.