Ahh, proxies, I was wondering when that would creep up...
One thing to keep in mind is WYSIWYG is not a game rule, and in fact, it used to be written into the rules to use coins or paper clips or anything else to represent the models so you could play a game.
That said, it most certainly is more enjoyable for me to play against someone using representative models, but I have 0 problem with someone who I know doesn't have the funds. Most kids I know generally can't afford $40 for a plastic tank, and another $40 for the painting gear to finish it. Last month I played in a store tournie where I quite literally played against an army man army (representing IG). While I found it a bit difficult for the fact that he was young and didn't have all the rules down, nor was there any way for me to tell what was what, we both had a good go of it, and he has since gotten a single small squad of citadel figs.
And the whole list thing again, while it may seem more fair, most of the lists that I see written ahead of time tend to be a bit more powerheavy than the ones made then and there. It seems that they've had more time to think how they really want to use the units, and how the army will fit together, vs a spur choice of troops. But I certainly agree that some people will/do take advantage and tailor a specific counter army. I have yet to lose to one, so I personally have no problem there, but I realise that it can be frustrating.
The prepared list is useful in a great many ways but in our area you find many people with varying sized armies, and limited time. While I can field over 23,000pts of space marine or eldar, my time constraints only allow for 1,000-2000pt games usually. This, and the fact that our store combined with everyones times, and how social it tends to be at our store, only allows for a single game, maybe two if they're lopsided in 4 hours.
As to some of the new people that show up and try this(tailoring list), I usually unload my 15,000 pts of eldar on another table and smile. write a list or use one I have, and deploy out of my huge selection. Yeah they know I'm eldar, but how many of the 120+ guardians are hitting the table, how many of my 3 falcons, 3 wraithlords, 10 wraith guard, or 30 warp spiders.
And at least at the store I regularly play at, we have an unusually great group that all like the game. We have rules lawyers (me), kids, parents, newbies, powergamers, mindless prats, and the rest of the gammet but we all get along well. Further, when we get new people to the store, and they are poor gamers (attittude is everything), we make sure that if they pick on the young inexperienced players, we check their rules, and will try and get them a game against a vet just to knock 'em down a notch. Mind you, we always welcome new people, and new players are great because you get new armies (oddly enough, we only have 3 marines in over 20 armies, gotta love that), new play styles, and great new people that share your hobby interests.
Oh, just thought of another pet peeve...
"I forgot to move that unit", "too bad, you've shot", "well, I fleet of foot'ed that unit to save the double movement phase" "still counts as shooting" "fine..."
People that are inflexable with such things tend to find me bringing the full wrath of the rules on their heads. I have no problem with them shooting the tops of my models heads, but I should be able to return fire. Played a few of these players (and since I am the rules lawyer of our group, it makes it all the worse) and find that they just don't enjoy the game unless they win by decimating the other player. I have no problem using the rules, nor allowing players to use the rules they are familiar with, but when they leave their codex at home, no army list, and pull special rules from their skull, plus try and bend the rules in only their favor, I have no problem whipping out the bgb and listing off infractions.
Anyways, happy days gents, and heres to hoping you're all getting a great game in today.