Poll for new league platform options!

Please review the following information, and then post your vote to the poll:

http://gridmotorsports.com/polls/2011c-new-platform

We've been discussing how to prepare for the next phase of the league, both technically and as a community.  But before making any concrete choices we want to measure everyone's preferences regarding one of the most fundamental of league variables: the simulation platform upon which our race activities occur (i.e. the game we use).

The options in the poll should be self-explanatory, but there is some context behind them that bears repeating.

• For the entire history of the league thus far, we've been using rFactor1 (rF1).  It's not perfect, and it's obviously getting grey in the beard, but we have a ton invested in it, there are copious amounts of community resources available for it, and quite frankly it's still getting the job done admirably.  And of course - we own it.  Each of us has our copy (many of us multiple copies), which is paid for and which we can use however we see fit as a league.
• rFactor2 will be released 'soon', and by all accounts has the kind of generational technological improvements that you'd expect from the ~6 year incubation period.  But, unfortunately, it appears that ISI has elected to fundamentally redefine the nature of the relationship between itself and its customers.  If you haven't paid attention to some recent adventures, it's been verified that ISI will be charging yearly fees for multiplayer capability in rFactor2.  It is our opinion that this is essentially a licensing fee masquerading as a subscription fee for 'features' that have little or no value to a league (and arguably even for the average gamer).
  
  But more to the point, the issue from our perspective hinges on the fact that if we were to invest ourselves (as a league and as mod developers) in rF2, we'd be subjecting ourselves to the whim of ISI's business interests.  Our technical development efforts could literally be rendered useless in the blink of an eye, or at least held hostage in exchange for the subscription ransom.
  
  That doesn't mean we can't or even shouldn't seriously consider switching to rF2.  Certainly worse things are happening in the universe than having to pay a yearly fee to a publisher in order to indulge in recreation, or than risking the devaluing of the fruits of our technical volunteerism.
• Lastly, the spectre of iRacing can't be completely ignored.  It has largely succeeded in establishing both the notion of 'sanctioned' sim-racing competitions, and in monopolizing that market.  But it does so via a significant sacrifice of consumer freedoms, and a very serious trade-off of consumer value.  But like rFactor2, just because some of us are disinclined to be patrons to that process, doesn't mean all of us are, or that it's a non-viable choice for organized sim-racing activities.  But it needs to be clearly stated to those that might not otherwise realize, that choosing iRacing means abandoning much of what it has historically meant to be in Grid Motorsports (or almost any other league).  It doesn't mean fun can't be had if we switch to iRacing, or that we can't adapt as a community to retain some measure of identity and fellowship.  But it won't be this, and it definitely won't be what many of us hope/envision a strong and independent league can be.

I don't offer these descriptions in any attempt to sway people's votes on the poll.  Please vote according to your own personal motivations.  I only want everyone to get a sense for some of the issues surrounding this decision, so that the options in the poll aren't just sitting there in a vacuum, without the context that they represent.  This is especially important for anyone who perhaps hasn't monitored some of the recent chatter, or even been out of the loop entirely for awhile and just happens to see the poll.

One last note: the poll is not binding.  It's just an opinion metric.  We'll have a ton of discussion afterwards with everyone before any final decision is actually made.

So please go and vote.  We'll leave the poll open for at least a week.  Thanks!!

UPDATE: The poll has now been closed (20111210). Here is a snapshot of the results at the time of closing:

Results

Stay with rF1 until we can switch to something that isn't rF2.		35.29%	(6 votes)
Switch to rF2 as a short term commitment (little or no mod effort, continue looking for alternatives).		41.18%	(7 votes)
Switch to rF2 as a long term commitment (substantial mod effort and league adaptation).		17.65%	(3 votes)
Switch to iRacing (no mod, abandon most of existing league adaptation).		5.88%	(1 votes)

So, I voted for Number 1, and would have voted for Number 2 second if we were ranking them.  I say that because we don't have any experience on rf2 and can't make an educated decision on the impact of the league it would have - even in the short term.  So that means it must be tried then.  We will have to find people who are willing to cough up the money to buy rf2 for testing purposes only - knowing that if we don't like it, the program will not be adopted for normal league use.  No doubt we will find enough wiling "guinea pig" drivers, who have no issue with the expense and quite frankly I count myself among that lot.

So, while we wait for the stupid game to come out, we discuss.

Oh, my wife and I do our best to avoid saying the word, "never"  ("Saying 'never' is like ringing Karma's doorbell....DING DONG!!")  So, while I won't say "never", I will say there will be ice chunks starting to block the river Styx before you see me on iRacing.  I have to wrap up, but I will write more on this later.

My vote was also for #1, but only by a hair over #2.  #1 is the purist option (wrt issues references), but #2 might be the more strategically wise option with respect to retaining league membership.  This might lead to a secondary question, although maybe not in the form of a poll...just responses: "which options would cause you to stop participating in the league?"

For me this would be for sure #4 and possibly #3, depending on what they actually end choosing as their 'subscription' model.

I wouldnt vote for any there should be an option to stick with rF1 and review rF2 when its been out for awhile changing so quickly will likely meen there are no really good tracks anyway 3 of the 4 options are basicaly condeming rF2.

Dumb question...............how hard would it be to use something like Race 07 or WTCC or GT legends?