Assembly Hall

I do.... An afk cloaker will typically NOT stop me from ratting.... I've dealt with this issue a thousand times:

1.) If there is an AFK cloaker in system, I typically rat in a t2 or cheapfit drake or Talos, fit to PvP. If I'm feeling frisky, and don't consider the AFK cloaker a legit threat, I'll use a tier 1 BS....

2.) I don't warp to zero.... I make BM's in each belt, and use those to rat from... This also helps with "raiders" that come into system when I'm not paying close attention by often providing a few extra seconds to get safe (cause I often dual & triple box).

3.) If I'm feeling paranoid I'll align after I exit warp, I'll randomize my warp in ranges, as well as randomize which belt I travel to next... The truth is though, this grows tedious, and it's just easier to fit my ship for a fight, and wait for the bastard to decloak so I can gank him first!!!

4.) I look up the character on battleclinic or evekill, and see what he flies, who his associations are, and get an idea of what to expect.... Is he going to titan drop me, BO drop me, attempt to solo me in a t3 or recon or SB, or is he going to tackle me long enough for his friends to arrive.

5.) I make sure I have an MWD and know how to use it... this allows me to power away from him, or power to him... depending on my mood...

6.) If he's a "real" threat... I rat in the system next door....

7.) I have a goal.... if I get hotdropped, I want to gank more than I lose... .meaning if I'm in an 60-80m isk drake or Cane, I want to take out a recon or 2x stealth bombers before I die..... sometimes I can, sometimes I can't.

AFK cloakers are soooo simple to deal with.... sure, it means you shouldn't be ratting in a carrier (unless it's bait) or faction/T2 BS, and so your isk / hour ratio suffers... but so what.... I personally don't mind a 30% reduction in pay for the extra excitement that a hotdrop provides...

Finally, as long as "local" is sooooo omniscient, I don't see any reason to hinder afk cloaking.... I want an actual intel system that is more balanced.... I think carebears deserve to know when a potential threat enters system in a very quick manner, but I feel there should be some ambiguity as to whether that new local is a friend or foe until you actually recon them!!!