1) True. The right formula allows anyone to play anyone else equitably.

2) Too black and white. It means that the game (chase the ratings) is flawed, not that it's invalid.

3) I disagree. If some match results are fair and others are not then accuracy is compromised.

I'm not saying that Stairs matches shouldn't count towards ratings. I'm glad that they do, in fact. But I will stay away from the single-match Stairs (and also tournaments) until the day we get a proper Backgammon formula. And I'll keep pushing for that periodically despite everyone getting tired of it, me included.