Now being that this may be a potentially delicate issue, it should be said that if this topic is not allowed or by making it I am breaking the terms of service or what not please let me know, delete this thread or do whatever you have to do. I am in no way supporting it, promoting it or praising it and do not want to come off as such. I wouldn't want to get banned for asking a question. All I am doing is asking a question regarding it.

With that out of the way, I have a few questions about the logic of the Gray Market in of itself. I AM NOT AT ALL considering contributing to said under the table industry and quite honestly believe that it shouldn't exist. After all, CIG didn't create it. What I am trying to understand is, well, the point of the Gray Market.
If the whole idea behind buying any of the ships that were, are or are going to be released by CIG is to help support the game in the form of a pledge and the ship itself is like an added "thank you" and a kind of head start from CIG, and all the ships will be available in game anyway, what is the point of spending extra money on the Gray Market where CIG isn't supported anyway? Is it just simply for those who want to own a certain ship that is not currently available through the regular channels so they go elsewhere? Is that all it is? A kind of materialistic taboo if you will?

So if someone goes and buys a ship off of the Gray Market, they are not only not supporting CIG, but are spending even more money on a ship that they can get for free in the future? Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of making a pledge? Could someone explain to me what goes through a buyers mind when buying a ship off of the Gray Market?

Again I am not supporting or promoting this, I’m just trying to figure out the point behind this all.