It is very probable, that the old 'Stars Owners and Principles' were nothing more than a canard. The B&M establishment was continually kicking themselves in the butt for not getting into the game earlier, and with the UIGEA, and then Black Friday, they saw a sneaky way to level the field to the point they could/can actually be relevant.
That establishment will find some new devious way to fight Stars, or any other established platform (
bodog ?) from regaining a toehold in US OLP. They know without doubt, that if Stars regains that toehold, their investments will instantly become worthless. For what sane person would play anywhere else than Stars if there is a choice? They intend to never allow that choice.
IMHO, by the time anything like the good old days returns, pokers rep will have been tarnished so much that the general non regular poker player will know the game is riddled with sharks, and that will keep poker as either a profession, or a kitchen table home game. And the pros will be eating themselves and the occasional 'entertainment' based player.
It will (unfortunately) never be like the good old days for US players.
