I don't see why you should have an advantage over other teams playing in the same division. As GM-koz pointed out, by continuing to win you're earning about $1 million more than any other team in your division. You can't have more STHs than everyone else in your division as a consequence of winning; they would be disadvantaged for an entire season at a time because each loss would cost them more in game revenue (STHs come back after you lose, but regular ticketholders take a powder until your winning ways return). This, on top of the fact that they are already losing more than you are.
In any event, the game is not set up to reward your team the way a winning team would be rewarded in real life. Sure, the Lakers are the hottest ticket in town; they also have to deal with inconsistencies in their players and team chemistry that can't be replicated in a game where player performance is based on a limited set of skills that are represented by values between 0 and 20. Plus they have a salary cap and an economic situation that fluctuates from year to year. That's why the "hottest ticket in town" spent the last seven years trying to crowbar their way through the first round of the playoffs. And if you're a fan like me, the five years before Shaq's arrival are completely forgettable.
I suspect one reason you're so unhappy is because free agents aren't going to be around anymore, and they were a fairly good source of trade revenue for you. As someone who hasn't been playing the game long enough to enjoy the benefits of day-trading, rampant free-agent acquisitions and other hi-jinks previously used by managers to get ahead, I can't sympathize too much. I appreciate that you've used the tools available to you skilfully, but if the utility of those tools is ended because you've hit a cap, you should be prepared to innovate again rather than stand on your old (unusable) methods.
Hi, We don't agree on everything evidently, but I like your arguementation.
Lakers!! (What more is there to say?) I've been a fan since 1990 and I am a fan even in the worst of times. But the Lakers found a way to win, they have a great GM who found T. Ariza and traded for less for more again and again. I like to think of myself as a GM who does the same thing. But looking at BB and the Lakers, the were allways the hottest ticket and have sold out for many seasons, even in diversity. And that comes from winning through the seasons. (And no, I am not suggesting that the fanbase in BB is built from the last 30 seasons :-)
On the free agent point you make. The anwser is yes and no. I honestly did not disagree with the removal of FA. I truely belive that if you look hard enough, there is allways a good deal to be made on the transfermarket. But yes, I must admit that starting in season 3 makes me have an advantage over teams starting up now. But I'm still a firm beliver in that good managers allways have a chance to make up the gap, regardless of where and when they start. Provenzano is a good example of that.
Last bu not least, I still think that the fansituation is defunk, I would like better if I had fx. 5000 sth compared to the next team. (Thats not in general, but in my league, looking at the last seasons) the way to balance out for the lesser teams could be to give a promotion bouns of fx. 2mill to new top league teams. I'm not saying that's the way to go, just a thought.
Thanks for your input. And yes, I will definetly try to innovate my ways of winning and generating cash.