Don't worry, 1 IP = 1 player isn't ever going to happen. We do want to stay in business you know...
NS, I understand the frustration at having to ask every time and that it's going to be a pain in the ass for tournaments, but the onus must be on the people who want the benefit of the doubt to ask for it.
That being said
you don't need to ask permission to have a sitter. You only need to ask permission to have a sitter
if the person who you want to sit is already in that game.
If you don't want to ask at the start of a game, just find a 3rd party sitter. If, however, you are placing yourself in a situation which has been used for abuse by others, I think it's fair and respectful to ask permission from your opponents if it is ok.
As for "this tournament requires you to allow team mates to babysit without question": I'd veto that one for the same reason I'd say no to Timminz's suggestion or saying that you can't run a tournament that involves secret alliances. Forcing people into a situation which could be dubious or abusive is not a good thing.
If you want to discuss the tournament specific implications of this, drop me a PM or IM so we can hammer them out and I can understand the problems, then bring them back here to the table.
As for Timm's suggestion again, the shopowner comment is actually fairly accurate. 99% of players here should reasonably be able to expect that they are playing the person who owns the account and not someone else. As such, if there is any derivation from that norm, it it should be the responsibility of the people deviating from it.
To say that the majority of people here EXPECT to be playing against sitters is a gross misunderstanding me thinks

FirstHolliday, don't troll people.
Now, let me defer back to Jim, who asked some very good and pointed questions with the aim of keeping this discussion moving forward rather than just saying "change sucks"
jiminski wrote:What we need to decide: Is the updated rule basically ok?
-Does it give more protection and freedom of choice for those who are anti babysitting by team-mates? - yes, i think so! (Rocket should be very happy as he can now just say no!) Coupled with the fact that CC will catch you if you do not declare, it should work well and offers fewer loopholes for people to wriggle through.
-Does the amended rule offer flexibility to those who have few options for babysitters and often require the help of their Team-mate? yes, most people will just say "yes" at the start of a game "no problem, sure you can play for your partner if they are away" ("Y" for short

) .... most people are reasonable and quite understanding of the demands of life outside the game.
People will find out quickly who oblige or not and temper their oppositional preferences accordingly.
Likewise, if people gain a bad name (i would say feedback will be a good tool for this too) as perpetually overusing/abusing a team babysitter they will find less opposition.
I honestly have no problem with asking if i may, in the event of it proving necessary, play for a team-mate. most people say 'gl' at the start! i think they can say 'Y' too?