The problem is that even if you didn't go on PK rampages with your buddies, you still arranged to have a group of very attractive (build wise) allies at your disposal, regardless of what you used them for. Even if all you used your OOC advantage for was gathering equipment, consider what advantage that equipment then gives you?

If your Hell perma existed in a vacuum, then it wouldn't be a big deal at all. Unfortunately, arranging to have multiple support characters available to your AP did provide you with advantages, some actual and some potential, and that's just the consequence of setting something like that up. This is why the Imms have a problem with permas made "just to explore", I would guess.

I see their logic. I don't necessary agree with it, but I see it.

Somewhere in there the funstick and the fairstick need to join forces and find a nice harmony between PvE and the consequences PvE have on PvP.