I happily signed the petition, but I don't think it will do anything more than heighten animosity on both sides. You cannot force Blizzard to do something they don't want to do. However, if we lead with the carrot and not with the stick, we might find a resolution that makes everyone happy.
Consider this petition...
"Blizzard, please provide gateway authentication services for any and all private servers, so that subscribed players have a choice of what type of WoW they want to play."
If Blizzard allows any and all private servers, but only if these private servers allow blizzard to authenticate subscribed players, it does a few things:
1) Blizzard is not pressured to provide a Vanilla server, which they have adamantly refused to do thus far.
2) It offers the players more safety, since all authentication is through Blizzard, it's more difficult for hackers to use farmed login info, <insert common phishing/hax here>, etc.
3) Blizzard makes more money through increased subscriptions.
4) Blizzard gains reputation. Want the future of MMORPGs? It's right here, private servers.
Please post thought on this approach.
Thanks everyone who made, played, and supported Nostalrius!
Regards,
Wryshu