Honestly, I think people are blowing this whole lock-out thing a bit out of proportion, at least for me the wait didn't feel that long and my team didn't even make it very far in the playoffs. Maybe it's because we have gotten used to shorter and more efficient off-seasons because way back in the past, the break between seasons seemed to be as long as this one pretty much every year, lock-out or not. Still, I think the lock-out was actually a good opportunity to take a little breather, take a step back and re-assess some things that we have come to take for granted or as normal over the years. Maybe it will lead to some healthy changes not just regarding the sim engine, but also regarding other rules and habits that seem to be set in stone when they don't have to be. It's good to question yourself and the things you take for granted once in a while, and maybe the league has done just that during this prolonged off-season.