[XxPenguinxX]

Thanks very much for the detailed response. I might continue to give BG a go, particularly (as you suggest) by running my games through GNUBG after the event.

I have to say I hadn't appreciated there even were ratings (that's how much of a newbie I am to online BG), let alone that they affect the rake level. I'm going to have to do some reading on how both the ratings and the rake are calculated. I just noticed that any rake I paid was above the 5-10% range which I am used to from poker.

I suppose you're right about the merits of switching over. BG has almost no profile, and certainly not the same sexiness as poker's image has. So to even find the game, let alone the online sites (and still less be prepared to risk money on those sites) means the average player is going to have a much better idea about "good" play than your average low level poker player.