As to the question:

Does anything go?
Not for me. I follow the rules.

I'm also one of those crazy assholes who, when the DX says, "The station ending in Papa Kilo?", doesn't keep calling when there's no "PK" in my call. I also don't call when the DX is asking for W6 & W7. Nor do I call when the DX calls for the K8. In fact, unless the DX asks for something that resembles my call, I STFU, unlike so many others. :roll:

As to winning a contest, I simply don't care. I don't submit a log (with 1 exception), so I'm not going to win. Even if I were to submit a log for any contest I'm playing in, I have no illusions about winning.

It's a fscking radio "contest" in a minuscule fscking hobby! Who gives a fsck? :roll: