I've seen some ABers announce they've completed the Radio Times crossword at 7:30 on a Tuesday morning. For some of us, the shop isn't even open, that early.
My faith that the prizewinners completed their puzzle unaided has been destroyed by AB but, hey, it's really annoying having to wait four weeks to get the answers to those last 3 or 4 I get stuck on. And you can even interact and get an explanation how the {#~n clue works.
Don't have "prize" crosswords down under, to my knowledge.
As Hypognosis says, it's all about learning. Sometimes I am completely baffled and being supplied one answer gets me on my way. Sometimes it is that one elusive answer that doesn't allow me to sleep. I prefer to gain hints than answers so as to help me get inside the setters head and understand the great variety of cryptic clue writing styles out there.
I have occasionally asked for an answer to a clue I've been struggling with- not because I want to win a prize but because I want to see how the answer was worked out so that i can improve at crosswords.
I do wonder though why some post a long list of very straightforward looking questions or regularly ask for answers to 4 or 5 puzzles in Puzzle Magazines
Often it is a corner or a few intersecting clues. Hence the request for more than one answer. But I agree about wanting to find out WHY and HOW the clue works. Humility comes hard to Answerprancer I guess
It wasn't "bad tempered" ...just a question. Please don't capitalise on my answers in order to vent spleen, Highbury.
DannyK, I think it's unfair and narrow-minded of you to write me off as "caustic" and therefore someone who is not "a pleasant type" based on one line of questioning on one post.