I beg to differ, for that is a very poor argument! Weighing gentle placing the ob frozen to the cb, vs. trapping the cb, I'd rather be able to freeze the ob vs. having a rule that when I as the opponent have to face a trapped cue ball, due to no fault of my own. That is a no brainer decision.
Here is from Mosconi's Book on how to play pocket billiards, 1948. It lists game rules, glossary, what shots are legal how they have to be stroked.
It states: If the cue ball rests on the the long string, thus interfering with the placement of the object ball, the object ball is placed either in front of or behind the cue ball, as near as possible to the cue ball (which means frozen to the cue ball. Mosconi writing/his wording.
It also states in there how to legally stroke a cb frozen to an ob. It has to be with one continuous stroke. Which means; you can not lay the cue tip upon the cue ball, pause, and then stroke through. I taught this to the TD of DCC and he adopted this into their general rules.
A rule that was the standard rule from probably the early 1900's when the popular cb frozen rule first became popular in the Bronx. That is where the famous American rule of it being legal to shoot towards (not away) a ball frozen to the cb and played by our greatest golden age BCA Hall of Famers, can not ever be shunned off and dismissed that easily.
Here is why:
*For one; when the object ball is frozen to the cb then by rule it is no harm no foul, to place an ob frozen to the cb.
Most all players can place the ob frozen to a ball without any effect upon the ball, and the cb, it has been done millions of times, when all games spotted balls. The era of spotting balls, a great era!
*For two; once the ob is frozen to the cb then the incoming player can get out of the trap, for it is legal to stroke directly towards the object ball, which allows the cb to follow to a safe place. The great American frozen cb rule! Europeans hate this rule! And the reason for their Black Eight ball, but so what! Americans invented the games.
*For three; the gap is unspecified, which can lead to argument, as Dr. Bill pointed out when I first threaded this. He is in favor of spotting the ball frozen to the cb. It makes sense to him! I know him as the Guru of pool, there is no better indorsement!
For four; it is justly unfair towards the incoming player to get trapped within the stack due to a bad rule. The ultimate position you want to get your opponent in, is to legally trap them within the stack, so this bad rule does that for you, ridiculous. Not much skill in that! Your trapped and now the incoming player is also susceptible of committing a double hit or push shot foul!
Like I stated; I by myself can not convince Steve. Videos, real live games of pros being trapped, Ray Hansen frustrated for minutes on end trying to spot a ball and getting a certain gap (what gap who knows, I'd like to discuss this with him), and then saying the gap cost Varner the game, and further stating; "that if I could of only be able to freeze it to the cb just like with any other ball then Varner could of got out of the trap, and probably won the game.
Varner grew up playing with the ob frozen to the cb when spotting we all did.
Another reason for adopting this spotting rule and JJ's spotting rule, is that I'd like to see Challenge Matches put on by Ray Hansen and commentated by JJ, go by these rules. It would really give OP.org rules a national indorsement plug. Along with a few other rules, such as our BIH-BTL rule, for one.
And yes! JJ's spotting rule would come up 1 in 500 games, so no real effect upon the game or rules, so why not adopt it! It is a great unique game rule fitting of the uniqueness of OP.
I think OP.org should go after challenge matches to use their rules, but you have to have something to offer that is different, for what is the use otherwise, and why would anyone change to your rules. I do not agree with DCC break rule, nor do I agree with their 45 degree rule, and of course their spotting rules, and their BIH -BTL rule. Each and everyone of these rules are bad for the game of OP.
I have worked on and finished a short version of the rules specifically geared to go after challenge and tournament use. But what good are they if the spotting rules are not adopted.
Whitey
Real games play BIH-BTL and spot up balls, and spot balls frozen to the cb.
I have nothing more to add on this, and will not discussed this further unless provoked, others may want to chime in. I will debate any rule, with anyone. I do not care or I can not be swayed by good ole boys, any individual, or other organizational rules, but I am only governed by own principals of rule writing, completing a rule within the rule, the intent is clear and non-ambiguous, and what is good for the game, and the players.