I missed a rare opportunity but now I'm curious

So I've heard that a few months ago, Riot was lifting permanent bans in the NA server. Some kind of experiment really, what appeared to be a one-time thing? I'll admit I'm a tiny bit disappointed that I missed such a wonderful opportunity, but I'm curious about something. Just how well did that go? Furthermore, is there any chance that Riot will do something like this again?

There are two big reasons why I'm asking this. The first one is that realistically, it's not too hard to prevent people from playing your game. If Riot employed the use of MAC address bans in addition to IP bans, we could have bans that really keep people out of the game. Getting your MAC address banned is extremely difficult to get around. And let's be honest here, the harder it is to bypass a punishment, the more people will give up trying. A bit of creative thinking and innovation is all it takes to keep the majority of unwanted players out.

The second reason is that ultimately, anyone can change. I'm aware that most people will disagree and say hurtful things to me, with the mindset that everyone who received a punishment is the same evil person. But the truth is, there's no justice in someone having to suffer more than what it takes for them to learn their lesson. The reality we face is that toxic players are most likely to continue making alternate accounts, because the system we have now allows it. And the people who do want to reform? Almost all of them end up leaving the game for good, never coming back. Because they took time to focus on their life, not a video game. Instead, they spread their positive energy to other games and communities once they're healed. You'll find it hard to believe, but often times reality is completely different than what people believe on paper. Nothing is absolute, exceptions are all around us. Even if some are just waiting to be made.

Yes, I know that Riot and a sizable portion of the community is afraid of what would happen if we started handing out second chances. I understand that it's a risky decision to trust others. But fear and ignorance are a part of the problem, as they can create terrible, terrible things. The more we give up on others, the more monsters we bring into this world. Kick someone when they're down and they'll have trouble getting back up. Never give someone a chance to improve, and you'll never see them change. We shouldn't demonize toxic players, because even the worst of people can change. We can come to understand why they've done what they've done, and find ways to help others walk the path of improvement, using love and empathy to purify toxicity at it's core. The goal shouldn't be to just prevent toxicity, our goal should be to cure it. Little by little, every effort counts. And sometimes, you have to risk getting burned if you want to extinguish a fire.

But my point is that I think Riot should shift their focus on player behavior to rewarding those who genuinely want to put effort in seeking help, those who truly desire becoming a better person. Not only that but Riot should be less lenient on the idea of alt accounts. With the right thinking and planning, we can let everyone have the second chance they deserve while making a ban, permanent or otherwise, nothing to laugh at. We can create a League of Legends where everyone gets an honest second chance, but those who ruin that chance are blocked from playing for good. An extra wave of forgiveness at the cost of harsher consequences, further incentivizing good behavior.

And I know it won't be easy. Sacrifices will have to be made, things might look grim at first. And as with everything in life, there's still a chance of failure. But unless you try, you'll never know the outcome. Even if everything goes according to plan with great execution, but we end up with a small reform rate, that should still count for something. Even if it ends up being a miserable 5%, the people that make up that 5% are sure to help make the game a better place. We could always use more kind, pleasant and sportsmanlike players. I'm sure that everyone who still plays this game is hoping they get teammates who are willing to act like decent people, when they queue up for a match. We're all a little scared in the back of our minds that someone will hop into our game and ruin it for the team. And something tells me that the incentive of being able to reclaim an old account just might be enough to help people reform. Accounts with years of not only sentimental value, but ones with lots of money invested. Plenty of permabanned accounts out there have spent hundreds of dollars on the game, not just mine.

Perhaps stories of permanently banned players rising to a path of improvement will release a great surge of inspiration across this chaotic community. Maybe, just maybe, the answer isn't to fight toxicity. But rather to lend a hand and mend those who have lost their way. Even if it means sharing the pain. It's like Nasus says: "No dawn comes without darkness." So are we going to stand idle and let nothing change, or are we going to step forth and brave the shadows for the greater good of our community? If not, I'll wander elsewhere. Hopefully to a place where I can make a positive impact on others, a place where people might appreciate my message. Because this is all a lot more than simply getting an account back. In the end, I'm no hero. Just a misunderstood soul who yearns for peace and understanding. But hey, there's always a chance I might get through to Riot and the community this time. And well... I guess this is my last attempt. Raise your fist or shoot me down, I'll never hate someone for doing what they think is right. We're all fighting our own war.