Thad:Time controls are a major part of games.  As an over the  board chess player, I can tell you that the time factor weighs heavily on the game's outcome.  One must use his time wisely or find himself making hasty moves.

There is a reason for the time controls.  And when people sign up for tourneys, many do so with the time controls in mind.  I always do this.  I expect reasonable time off periods for weekends and vacations.  But when vacations days become a method to avoid any timeouts, that is abuse IMO. 

I believe that a majority of people agree that some restrictions on vacation days is in order.  I think that fact matters more than any $ that can be made by allowing people to purchase more vacation days.

The person in question here abuses the system.  He holds up tournaments, plays games down to the last seconds even if losing, and he does so just to annoy his opponents.

He was out of vacation days a week ago.  I was playing a game with him (1 day move) and he was moving in a timely way.  Now he's timed out once so has 34 days of vac left.  Plus, just now, he let the clock run down to about 1 min before making his move. 

I'm a black rook so don't have to consider buying future memberships.  But if I weren't a lifetime member, I'd think very seriously about renewing.  I suspect others feel the same way.  How is it beneficial if 10 people get fed up with the current system and won't renew as a result just so a couple of people can purchase multiple blocks of vacation days? 

BTW, they aren't vacation days when misused.  They are nothing more than insurance against timing out in a game.  I am totally opposed to such a thing.