I submit that links are fundamentally at odds with PVP, and further that they destroy PVP content by removing a critical part of PVP, which is choosing your fights. Links change the capabilities of ships so much that they effectively destroy the ability of the pilot to know what they are fighting, and what chance they have of survival.

Links change this completely. You think you face a tech 1 frigate. You have no idea that it has a much better tank than a tech 2 assault frigate, with more DPS, and can easily destroy 3 or 4 unlinked players by itself.

The only way to avoid off grid linked players is to never fight in a system where you don't know exactly where everyone is, or who and what they are. In other words, stay away from any system where there is more than one enemy or neutral, or where you can't see everyone in local on grid.

THAT is what links do for PVP. If you are serious about choosing your fights, those become the rules. Otherwise, your only option is to use off grid links yourself. At that point, PVP becomes inaccessible for new players, and small gangs are massively disadvantaged because they need to pay for an alt.

So, these are the three big problems with off grid links:

1. They destroy the ability to know what you face, and to choose your fights.
2. They completely unbalance PVP, making ships that would die 1 v 1 capable of taking on 3 or 4 enemy with ease. They are not subtle, but rather they are designed to make solo ships essentially invulnerable in small gang pvp.
3. They can't be countered, short of engaging in an arms race that has nothing to do with piloting and everything to do with spending isk, and time, in the pursuit of simple PVP.

But let us not ignore the real problems with Eve, and with the culture at CCP. Last week I logged on and jumped into a navy faction frigate, and went to meet my corp 6 systems away. I was insta popped by TWO svipuls at the first gate, then podded.