Also someone back me up on this but I'm pretty sure it's 100% legal to put any sponge, so long as it doesn't go over the thickness rule, on an approved ITTF topsheet & play.
I mean we all know that the CNT uses Hurricane 3 as their FH topsheets but the quality & harness of sponges they actually attach remains a great mystery.
I also don't follow the logic that it's completely okay for manufacturers to do it but not users. To me that simply makes zero sense. Anybody who argues otherwise I almost jokingly have to question "do you work for Butterfly or DHS?" Why so interested in keeping their pockets lined?
The rule you pointed out yourself (even though I question "what is the definition of covering?") says nothing about it being okay for manufacturers to do it. By that standard then everybody who plays with Tenergy (which is like 90 some % of pros) are playing with illegal rubbers. Basically everybody is.
Yes, it is totally legal to use any sponge as long as it is within the thickness regulation. And we are actually being spoiled by the manufacturers these days. We used to have to buy rubber and sponge sheets separately and glue them together ourselves, which sometimes generates really awesome results and combinations are infinite. But it is really hard to get it consistent and since more and more manufacturers are producing pre-assembled rubbers with sponge, and the quality is getting better and better, people started to switch to buying those instead.
Boosting has nothing to do with gluing your rubber. Just because you apply your booster during gluing process the booster itself still has nothing to do with gluing. With that logic you could treat your rubber in the microwave if you do it between the first and second layer of glue because it "part of the gluing process".
Yeah, right. If something had to be done during the gluing process to take effect, then it is considered part of the process, it is your choice to do it or not. It's the same as painting a car, you can choose to apply primer or not, but if you do it it has to be done before you put on the paint and after you prep the surface, ask anyone if putting primer on a preped surface part of the painting or not and they'll tell you it is. But you don't have to do it, primer just promotes the bonding, doesn't affect the color at all.
That is not my standard, that is what is written in the rules. ITTF approves rubbers ex works. If you change anything afterwards that is not the rubber anymore the ITTF has approved. Quite easy to understand, isn't it?
Yep, it is YOUR standard, not everyone else's. Like I said above, it is totally fine to buy rubbers and sponges separately, glue them together yourself and use them on a blade. By YOUR standard, it is illegal, but by ITTF standard it is fine.
2.4.7 The racket covering shall be used without any physical, chemical or other treatment.
Actually manufacturers are above that special rule. As long as their rubbers get approved everything is fine. As soon as you buy that rubber rule 2.4.7 applies to you.
Wrong, see above, you can assemble your own rubber and sponge.
What kind of a "point" is that? It does not matter if we like the rules or not. If you don't like them write a letter to ITTF or whatever. There is a difference between questioning rules and deliberately breaking them. Do I like the current rules regarding service? No. Would I deliberately serve illegally? No, as I am a fair player.
I don't care if my opponent deliberately serves illegally or not but I would always let him know that he is a cheater. I could not care less if you boost or not as you don't have any advantage from it as an amateur player, the better player would still win. But if you illegally treat your racket covering you are a cheater. Deal with it.
Edit:
I am curious as well.
It is you that should be dealing with your problem. Again, boosting is not cheating, unless ITTF comes out and specify what boosting is and it is not allowed, it is legal.
