“Wall of Shame” would be more appropriate title for this post, but let’s keep it professional.
As an add-on to my post about problems with TM-backed validators I wanted to share a couple of screenshots (and these aren’t the worst that I could find) that show how fiercely competitive TM-backed validators are.
For example, if your node performance tanks for days, you lower your commission to retain nominators if they don’t leave you anyway, right?
Well, yes, except that this validator hasn’t done it, and why would he when his uptime is okay and so he gets the regular 200,000 xx nomination helping from Team Multiplier. So 18% it is!
How about this one?
Nope, still 18%. Maybe he lost the multiplier in era 143, but other than that he’s very much in the game, charging the maximum commission possible.
Now this one has barely any excuse to still validate rather than nominate.
Nope. There’s no reason to charge less than the maximum. 18% - because they can!
This one has invested in doubling the performance and earnings, from 50 to 100 xx/day, so it’s only right to claim a fair share of earnings for the hard work and investments made in recent weeks.
18% commission on the account of continued improvements!
It’s enough to see one or two such cases - and there are many - to realize that most of the worst Team Multiplier-backed nodes have no need or reason to compete.
On the other hand, the best TM-backed nodes can’t charge more than worst nodes, which isn’t right.
Non-TM-backed nodes need not apply, because 90% of them stands no chance to get elected against nodes from these screenshots.
And finally, the ease with which the worst nodes can constantly charge the maximum commission with utmost impunity opens up a way to game the system and yet not violate any spelled-out Team Multiplier rules.
NOTE: none of these charts show validator nodes from Ukraine or Russia.
