This thread has some funny  shit in it. Pope/Dawg, you guys are so rediculous sometimes, about the only that made sense was when Pope said "It's just ice climbing." That is exactly what it is, it not aid climbing, it is ice climbing whether you are using leashes or no leashes, monos or old school rigid crampons, straight shaft or leashless tool, butt plug or no butt plug. You don't see people heading up El Cap with rack of screws and two ice tools do you? No, because most people going up there are aid climbing, not ice climbing. That is the same reason you don't see someone heading up some ice line with a wall rack. The only similarity they really share is that you are reliant on tools to ascend. The tools for both sports are quite different and constantly evolving. 
  
One of the few people here who had something reasonable to say was Carolyn. I would have to agree with her. Hell Dawg if you want to go climbing ice routes with straight shaft alpine pick tool with leashes have fun, or at least I hope you do. Jens, I really hope your not climbing leashless cause all the euros are or because you think it is aid (see above about aid climbing). I don't think that is the case, I hope it because it is fun. 
  
As far as leashes = cheating, I am not going to buy it for a minute. I set the rules for myself, why would I set rules that I would have to break? The next set of tools that I will buy will be leashless (that is if I ever fucking move to some place that it get cold so that I can ice climb again), but I am sure that I will keep my Cobras with Android leashes for alpine routes in the mountains.  
  
Oh btw if you see me the hills ice climbing with leashes don't hell I would hate be accused of cheating, or god forbid aid climbing.