That's rubbish, he doesn't always get a buff first.

What is even wrong with that?

Drawing dicks on the spawn walls with the pistol.

It's a fair point, but I don't know if that actually creates a nostalgia value.

So to have a Reason cosmetic harks back to when they had a famous team or whatever. Like a hall of fame element.

For me, the first step to getting any kind of support and cooperation from Valve, is to fix the clear issue that exists with regards to communication.

Somehow we need to get them conversing with us and the overall community much more often and much more candidly. A proper two-way discourse (and not just us complaining, as we often do).
Once we get proper communication, I think it's much easier to show them our world, and they'd be more receptive to showing us theirs; their challenges, problems, thoughts and ideas. Once we know what we're working with, we can move forward in the best manner and imo this would infinitely help the situation.

Probably the only way it can be solved is through the more known members of the community leveraging whatever contacts they have in order to set up a discussion with Valve, specifically about the communication issue.
Maybe Valve fears getting our hopes up, maybe Valve feels there isn't the money in it, maybe they are unaware at the harm that a lack of communication does, maybe they're not interested, or maybe they don't know how. The problem is, we haven't a clue. I think the community/comp community needs a closer working relationship with Valve if anything is to get done long term.

Is it beyond reasonable to think that you could even have certain team jerseys/hats as in-game cosmetics?
Or do these exist already?

Like Crowns or Froyo tops/hats.

Also, could the LAN be shared with other games to help spread costs?

Smart, for sure.

Though perhaps worth making a big push and striking to them while the iron is hot, to even get some minimal involvement?

Imo now is the best time to push for better communication (this seems to be so key to any improvement in the game and comp) and even some direct involvement in the comp scene, in whatever form.

Then again, have you seen me play any class for a top team (or mediocre team,)?

Where's my fucking nomination?

edit: I'm joking ^^ and I have never really seen you play demo, so please remain untriggered. Or play demo next season to a very high standard and post on here every day to remind me im full of shit.

At whose expense?

If you say so.

Outrageous.

When I say top, I mean like comparable to these players I am mentioning.

I haven't really seen Mike play much of those classes tbf.

NA LAN would be funny, because half the players wouldn't even be able to drink.

Since I have been watching, B4nny, Clockwork, Stark and Mike and maybe even Kaidus standout.

But it's difficult because how do we quantify best? B4nny is top level on 3 classes, though you can debate whether he is best at any one (demo quite possibly). Clockwork and Mike are pretty much one class specialists (although CW could snipe brilliantly). Better than B4nny probably on those classes, but he can play three classes. Stark is imo at least comparable to CW on scout and not much worse than top soldiers on soldier. If he's on soldier he can contest Mike in a match, from what I have seen. And Kaidus was great and seemed to be capable of even more than he delivered at LAN, albeit rarely on the best team. Once again though, a specialist. I have omitted any medics, which seems unfair. I'd probably pick Shade, but I watched more NA TF2 than EU when I started watching a few years back.

So essentially, is a specialist better than a top level generalist? Not a clue.