Even if he is found guilty, they are not going to do anything drastic...probably a warning. And I realize this is a precedent setting decision, but really isn't every case? I have been around for a few of these quasi-farming cases, not to beat a dead horse but GLG / DH. It was said by many of the mods that it was wrong, but within the rules. The farming rules have been discussed since I joined this site 3 or 4 years ago (probably close to 50 threads all with valid solutions supported by a large portion of the forum community, but none are ever implemented) so I doubt that there is going to be a re-write there.
The rules in this case state
"systematically "farming" new recruits". Well by that definition, he would have to have a system in place. Looking over his games, yes he does play 20-30% new recruits but that by definition isn't systematic. He would have to have 1 in every 3 games (or 1-5 depending on the percentage) against a new recruit. It would have to be a regular pattern, by definition. Technically if I played 1 game with a new recruit every 100 games I would be systematically farming, only because I would have a system in place. On the other hand if I played 7 games with new recuits, 4 with other ranked players then 4 games with new recuits then 2 with other players, then 20 with new recruits etc...I would not be "systematically farming" because my play against the new recruits was not regular or a regular pattern. Its the word systematic that can be used to a farmers advantage as long as they don't show a pattern they should technically be ok.
This is a snippet of a definition from the first google dictionary site that popped up:
a : methodical in procedure or plan <a systematic approach> <a systematic scholar>
b : marked by thoroughness and regularity <systematic efforts>
I bolded regularity because thats what is being decided here I suppose. If this was the real world then Alstergren would be cleared, but since were in the inner sanctum where rules are more guidelines depending on whether a player is "servicing" a mod or not this could go either way.