NormH3, you can "kindly" go read the earlier posts in the thread and see that it was not me who brought my name into this thread in regards to boastful chest-thumping. Last I checked, the thread title isn't about the Ladder site, Ladder league tables, or Knockout competitions either, but they've been referenced 3 times already in this short thread.
Different people play the game for different reasons. Some are super-competitive and like to go head to head constantly to measure their skills. Others rarely or never play with other people and play the game as an enjoyable exercise for themselves only. Other people don't care much about their skills and just play for the social element the game brings. No way is right or wrong, it's strictly up to the individual.
Once registered, a player has no obligations to play in any particular way. They don't have to play a certain number of games per month to be ranked, they don't have to play against other people or enter any tournaments...in short, a player is free to play in whatever style suits them. So, it matters not if someone is out their "protecting their average", as you put it. If that's the style of play that suits them, then that's fine. That's one of the great things about this site. You can choose to play in whatever fashion you like, no penalties, no demotions, just enjoy the game!
I've said this during my entire tenure here and I'll continue to say it: The more people focus on how other people are playing the game, the less they are focusing in on the reasons why they are here to play the game, thus defeating some of the enjoyment in being here in the first place. It's a game, and at the end of the day it's supposed to be fun. If it's not fun for you, then there's no need to look to others for the reasons why that is the case. That responsibility begins, and ends, with you.