If you merge against me and are lazy enough to give me a good front quarter shot on the merge ... I will rake you from stem to stern and not even think about it ... and I would not consider that a HO and definitely not a pick.
If you have exposed yourself for a front quarter shot ... you could not have shot me ... so you weren't really doing me any favors.
+1
To me this is the single biggest misconception in the game. 99% of the "HO's" people claim simply aren't. If the other can and does get his nose around 1st you have an obligation to avoid the shot. Now in a true 1 on 1 vs a known adversary I'll hold off on a lot of FQ shots if I know he will as well...but in the MA all bets are off if I dont know you. I posted this screen shot awhile back after a guy complained on 200 that I HO'd him...

Not only did this guy not have a shot at the time I popped him, he had no ability at any point to ever get guns on me...