RR, I can't see why it's a bad idea to remove just the rail levels.
If you find a technique that provides for infinite score in a certain type of level, you don't just go about deleting unaffected levels. You don't necessarily nuke all scores cause a few have a certain technique.
Your wording made the entire situation sound DRASTIC, as if every level were easily broken and easy to hax. The entire level of Dinosaur Jungle is free from any consequences of infinite rail points.
Below is a comprehensive list of which levels are affected by the technique and which aren't:
Scores in Need of Scrapping Because of Rail Points
Sand Oasis 1
Sand Oasis 4
Sand Oasis 5
Sand Oasis 6
Sand Oasis 8
Evil Foundry 1
Evil Foundry 2
Evil Foundry 6
Evil Foundry 8
Evil Foundry 9
Evil Foundry 11
Levitated Ruin 1
Levitated Ruin 4
Pirate Storm 1
Pirate Storm 3
Skeleton Dome 1
Skeleton Dome 5 *
Skeleton Dome 6 *
Skeleton Dome 9 *
Skeleton Dome 10 *
Skeleton Dome 11 *
Night Palace 1
Night Palace 6
Night Palace 7
Night Palace 8
Night Palace 9
Night Palace 12
*Rails in Skeleton Dome, though regrindable, are extremely difficult to backtrack to. Often, one must blindly pass backwards through fast moving axes or skeleton enemies. Other times, spike balls are the hazard. Though infinite score is possible, it is extremely difficult. If someone can consistently grind the single rail in sd11, I think they deserve a pricey reward.
Scores in Need of Scrapping for Other Reasons
Levitated Ruin 9 - You can take infinite laps around the level.
Pirate Storm 9 - Infinite laps *
Pirate Storm 10 - Infinite laps *
Pirate Storm 11 - infinite rings
Pirate Storm 12- Infinite laps *
*Technique is difficult, but exists.
Scores in Limbo
Lost Prologue 20
Lost Prologue 21
Sand Oasis 7
Evil Foundry 5
Skeleton Dome 7
Night Palace 11
All of these scores have regrindable rails, but have time limits. The time limits prevent infinite scores and put less emphasis on rail grinding. For example, SD7's time limit is 45 seconds, and it takes a decent chunk of time and effort to regrind a rail. It is more efficient to go for extra rings (this level is not maxed) than to spend all your time on a 10 point regrind. these levels should probably be on a case by case basis.
Levitated Ruin 3
Skeleton Dome 3
These levels, too, have time limits. The thing that separates them from the above levels is that they may not have regrindable rails. The rails are either very difficult to regrind or aren't regrindable at all. These levels are otherwise the same as the above.
Scores Which Are Entirely Unaffected
Sand Oasis 2
Sand Oasis 3
Dinosaur Jungle 1
Dinosaur Jungle 2
Dinosaur Jungle 3
Dinosaur Jungle 4
Dinosaur Jungle 6
Dinosaur Jungle 7
Dinosaur Jungle 8
Dinosaur Jungle 9
Dinosaur Jungle 10
Dinosaur Jungle 12
Evil Foundry 12
Levitated Ruin 5
Levitated Ruin 7
Levitated Ruin 8
Levitated Ruin 10
Levitated Ruin 11
Pirate Storm 2
Pirate Storm 4
Pirate Storm 6
Pirate Storm 7
Pirate Storm 8
Skeleton Dome 2
Skeleton Dome 4
Skeleton Dome 8
Skeleton Dome 12
Night Palace 2
Night Palace 3
Night Palace 4
Night Palace 10
Conclusion and Junk
Basically, the extent of this rail nonsense is far less than RR estimated. He constantly called to delete all the SSR scores, when in reality the game was not as touched by the technique as he assumed.
Of the 71 scores currently tracked by tsc, 5 were already capable of infinite score before the rail stuff was found. Of the remaining 66 scores, 31 are not affected in any way (47%). The number that are certainly capable of infinite score is 27, or 41%. In the event that the skeleton dome scores are deemed too unrealistic to become infinite, the number of guaranteed infinites is 22, or 33%
Best case scenario, with limbo scores tracked and the skeleton dome scores tracked, 44 levels will still be tracked at tsc, about 67%. Worst case scenario, 47% will remain.
In other words, we need opinions. What should we do about the limbo scores (time limit)? What should we do about the skeleton dome scores that are difficult to backtrack on (probably delete)?
And, based on our decision, is that fact that we have only 31 levels left justification to delete them all? or is that potential 31-44 levels enough competition value to rationalize keeping them? Should we delete all the levels because there will be only 31-44 left? Or should we only delete those clearly affected and keep competition in those which have competition value?
My opinion is that some skeleton dome scores should get second looks, the limbo scores should be taken on a point for point basis, and we should keep all salvageable levels we can.
your opinions?
EDIT: I've changed my mind, the SD scores are pretty much goners.
