Mark was around 1800 then (his max was around 2000), and I was around 1500-1600 after about a year a few months of training - this match was in October 2012. He is around 1500-1600 now but Father time is undefeated and the cool thing about TT is that it keeps you going.
Living in Philly and working with the coaches I did gave me a respect for the dead ball. So while I understand how some players view it as a disrespectful style, I have always seen it as something I can beat and something I can use - I have forgotten how to use it as I got better lol, but it is something I am trying to introduce back into my game a bit. I used to flat hit at an 1800 level (as in play a match with either inverted or short pips and just smash, no real topspins), and I still smash loose balls on the forehand side, I just don't get to spend as much time at the table and training as I used to, which is probably a good thing lol.
But I think that if my body holds up, I can really shorten some points by taking some more aggressive risk. I am too comfortable spinning up the ball, which would be ideal if I intended to run around all day, but I don't, so I do need to get a big more aggressive on loose balls earlier in the point (or at least develop the ability).