I've noticed that /vp/ seems to really have no idea what the fuck they are talking about when it comes to pic related.

First and foremost is a complete misunderstanding of the tier structure.

I see way too many people complain about how smogon dismiss pokemon they don't like as shit and then drop them in to NU.

First of all, that isn't how the tiers work. If that were the case I can tell you right now that Toxicroak would not have been OU for Gen V.

Second, you shouldn't be complaining if a pokemon you like is NU. You aren't restricted to using a low-tier pokemon in the tiers above them, and indeed, many pokemon in NU can perform quite well in the upper tiers, such as Ninjask and Ludicolo. Nobody is stopping you and most people would congratulate you for doing well in OU with such pokemon.

Another misconception is that Smogon has some kind of affinity for overcentralizing mechanics and pokemon - but only if it's one that they like. Examples would be shit like Terrakion being allowed in OU while Blaziken is banned. (I even personally disagree with Terrakion being OU)

Again, this isn't how tiers work. I'm sure many of you already know that a pokemon's position is determined by usage.

Also, if this were the case, tiers wouldn't exist. Smogon tiers are actually an effort to *avoid* overcentralization and it works to an extent. The tiers exist to give every pokemon a fair chance to compete againt other mons of equal strength. The only actual restrictions are to a select few pokemon that are uber and a handful of clauses. That's it.

Then there are the people who believe there should be zero rules or restrictions. The kind of people who want to run double team Amoongus and spore every switch in.

Well, the place you're looking for exists. It's called wifi randoms, and lets take a moment to appreciate how totally fucked that is. It's almost funny how you see the "Smogon copypaste" teams on wifi randoms waay more than you see them on Showdown.

(cont.)