Otaku: As a supporter of declumping can I ask that you do not put words into my mouth.
Did I put words in your mouth?
No, really; I remember citing Raen's post, not yours. Maybe I keep missing where I did it (seriously, I've done that before
-_-') so let me know.
Gonna resist dissecting your post and just remind you that declumping is only legal when you shuffle thoroughly enough to have made it nothing more than a "good luck ritual". If declumping is actually affecting the results of your shuffle, then it is cheating. Most players don't shuffle well enough; the correct response is to keep encouraging proper shuffling and if necessary, penalizing improper shuffling... just like we do incorrectly listing the contents of your deck on your deck list. Just like we do using illegal randomizers or sleeves.
I refer to it as "wasted time" because of the above; if it has any bearing on your deck order (no matter how fast or slow) then it is illegal, and is only legal when it amounts to a "good luck ritual". It doesn't matter how long it takes; it might be milliseconds but its still wasted time. Even if someone could declump in no time at all, then it would just be "wasted effort" or a "wasted action".
---------- Post added 07/08/2013 at 09:23 PM ----------
Seeing clumps of triples and quads of pokemon, trainers, and special energy is NOT NORMAL. Please go back and look at the simulation data I posted.
Define "normal". No, really; we are dealing with statistics and a lot of words can have different (but still legitimate) meanings, and that is before common but incorrect usage.
It is possible to properly randomize your deck and end up with triples and quads. It isn't likely, but is is an legitimate, possible result and that is how I understood Swordfish1989's comment (of course, I can't read his mind, haven't been discussing this on the side... I can't even remember if I "he" is a "he" (and time is a bit short so I can't follow the links to be sure).
If you are manipulating your deck to avoid or reduce the probability of a result
it isn't random, excluding those boundaries imposed by the game rules (e.g. you aren't allowed to do things like randomly shuffle cards in and out of your deck, you are supposed to shuffle due to reasons other than random muscle spasms, etc. as I know that tripped up a different poster).
FYI: I discourage somewhat vehemently declumping. The rules of the game allow a player to declump provided proper procedures that render it inconsequential are followed, and thus so do I. I even would encourage someone who already does it regularly to continue doing it at a high level event
if they haven't successfully broken the habit; at that point not engaging in "the ritual" will likely prove too distracting and hurt your performance.