and also: at the start, people seemed to want to learn something, but it turns out there's nothing to learn - everyone is just bashing

+1. True, actually. I simply couldn't participate (really wanted to) - but I would gladly read and analyze the battles. Maybe require participants to use the vbn program, which periodically takes a snapshot of the battlefield?
PS Generally, sharing knowledge should be a joy, imho. There's an unhealthy trend - hiding stuff, some shameful rot - it needs to be nipped in the bud. Those who started doing this - they probably read articles and saves from the portal and Bay and learned from them. They somehow didn't immediately start "hoarding" - oh, tournaments, you know - but generously share their knowledge, and we should do the same, not sit in corners with our little secrets in a hole, twinkling our beady eyes :).