You're right. There really is no fundamental difference between idling in a server and using the program. That whole aspect about Valve's decision is technically not very relevant though. However, there are benefits you get from using the program that are not available to anyone who gets items in a legit fashion which deem it illegal (which surely plays a part in Valve's decision):

-You can run it in the background and not have it hog resources unlike idling using the real game.
-You don't face the risk of getting booted from an admin or hit an AFK timer.
-You can customize how you want the program to manage your backpack. You can set it to delete duplicates or things with a lower level - or anything but hats. This is not a regular game feature at all.

These are things that give anyone that uses the program benefits over people that use the regular game. Regardless of the features (or what some would argue the "lack" of features), it is a program and crosses the distinguishing mark Valve made. The thing most people who got their stuff taken away don't realize is that although people could still idle with the game, it is irrelevant in explaining the justification of banning people who used an application that really doesn't do much more than reguarly idling. Valve's point was that any third-party application used to modify the game breaks the terms of service and they will punish for it. People seem to think Valve owes them an apology because people idle in the regular game and didn't get punished and they did. Well, the line Valve drew was on using programs, not on the definition of idling. It's not a democracy.

Perhaps the reason I am getting at is that this issue is solved with a much more fundamental reasoning than what people would like to hear. That reasoning is that Valve can do what it wants because they make the game and it isn't a democracy.

What? The point Valve was making was that there is a restriction against using third-party programs, not idling. You know, just like that official interview in which Robin Walker stated that people farming achievements is fine, but using unlockers isn't? Just like that blog post they made referring to banning unlocks for using third-party software to aid in getting the weapons? That was back in February, by the way.

As per their Steam Subscriber's Agreement:



That doesn't seem like it was two days ago. I just don't understand it. How can people not understand after having their weapons taken away back in February from using external software to gain them is any different than using external software to gain them now?

Considering th0ey said back in February, "This time it seems a number of you used an external application to unlock all of your achievements in order to get items unfairly", I'd say that them stating in the latest post, "However, we need to draw the line at running external applications" is not a coincidence. In combination of the blog from months ago, the terms of service, and the obvious repeat of the same thing they said before, I don't know understand why people are protesting. You're right, it was three months before the idle program was made. Don't you think that's enough time to take in their attitude towards programs from before? They can't tell who has and hasn't done both the unlocker and the idle, or just one or the other. They shouldn't have to try either.