The Magma decks were VERY good. Blaziken goes about 50-50 with it, slightly more in Blazikens favor with the Bellossom tech if you know what strategies work against it and what does not. Many assume Bex is the answer when it is not. Had Team NEO had any chance to playtest against these decks we would have done much better but most people did not have the time to adapt well enough in time, yet alone have appropriate answers in their decks for them. I would say that the Japanese players who t32ed were all as good as the best American players. I wouldn't say better in the least. I am confident alot of their showing was in part due to such a strong deck and our complete lack of knowledge of it. All of our best players had spent time teching their decks out against the known archetypes to a point where it hurt us in terms of fighting this Magma deck. It is very good but I do not see it being as strong again if another event was head where preparation vs it could be done.
Prime- I have zero qualms with stalling someone out. To me, its as legitimate as a clean win. The key to this game is to realize no matter what deck you use, you will have a pairing that is nearly an auto loss, or near impossible to win. You must do your best to survive these match ups, be it by lucky pairings or cutthroat play. Gardevoir was this match up for me. Expecting SHiftry, Magma, and Metagross to shut Gardy out of the tourney, I expected it to be t he safest deck to take a loss to, which was untrue as I got paired vs 2 of them. In an event with such prize support, anything legally allowed in the floor rules goes. I would hope all players do their best to win. This isn't just some local fun games with your friends. I don't mean to be rude to your opponent, or anything, but don't do less than your able to to be nice. If an opportunity arises, take it. I kept a clock on me at all times to know the current time. Jason K used the same idea at the FAT last year. He used that to beat a Magcargo deck in the t8. When time limits apply, you need to know how to play them, just like you do your deck. Not everything is just a simple in game skill. Say your facing a really hard match up. Pretend your using a different deck. Offer a draw. See if they accept. If not, whats the worst that happens? You play it out and probably lose. But go for the attempted draw. Theres more to winning than just ingame skill. Put on an aura of confidence and respectibility and your opponents will be at a disadvantage off the bat, and you never know how that may influence the offering of IDs.
The other thing though is, if someone stalls me out, I don't get upset. Well, no more upset than when I lose a normal game. I'd rather take a loss by a smart opponent who knows how to play in and out of the game to the best of their ability than to a bad match up or a lucky draw or a bad hand. It proves my opponent is doing their best to win, and I know I would do the same to them and expect fully the same in return. If its legal, its just another move in the game.
Ive been playing TCGs since 1995. Competitively since at least 98. As primarily a competitor of the game rather than a fan of the game, I do what it takes to win and it really doesn't bother me. I think most people would agree I am a nice opponent when I play them, and that I don't try and be stuck up or rude. I won't hesitate to pull out any and all stops. Its how you maximize your chances to win.