I just logged on to PokerStars today and played a few
hands, and yeah its true, they removed the search player function. Must have happened within the last few weeks, because when I played there in may 2019, it was still there.
I dont have any problem with this. I think, its enevitable, that
poker sites try to limit the amount of "bum hunting", that is going on, to give net depositing (kind word for losing) players a better experience. Also as someone pointed out, it has been possible for a long time to hide from this search function, which many players therefore did.
I think, people who like to table and seat select, should just be happy, that Stars even allow this still. They already have a parallel "fast seating" system running beside the traditional lobby, and on PokerStars.eu this is the only way to be seated. So we are surely only a whisper away from this being introduced on
pokerstars.com as well.