Indy

Indeed. I’ve heard that from others as well.
I, personally, do not intend to delete my account (yet), but I am aware that it is a manual process. As so much is here, it seems.

I recently made some adjustments to my stuff here and it’s helped a little. (You’ll see the irony momentarily.)
I’ve unsubscribed from most kbin magazines and have subscribed to magazines (communities) from other Fediverse instances instead. Now my feed actually has content and a lack of SPAM. So, essentially, I’m here in name only.

Eventually, all of us normal users will need to ditch this platform because we won’t our names/accounts tied to something that is notorious for SPAM and other illegal activities. Perhaps sooner than later, if the rest of the Fediverse decides to stop federating with kbin.
Until then, I figure at least I can still look through the window at the rest of the Fediverse.

Agreed. My block list is unbelievable. As I’ve said in previous comments about this kind of thing: communication is key.
We’re getting zero communication and, if we so wanted to leave, can’t even delete our own accounts on the way out.

That’s exactly the thought I had about it. (The sample return part.)

Perhaps also with a small containment field with its own power supply? Thus the smaller size would allow for more efficient use of such a field, whether by allowing it to be more secure while using the same power as a larger field or to sustain a smaller field for a longer time in cases of general power failure?

My understanding is that the “rocks” are a product of the electroplasma system being exposed to air. Whether that is some sort of coolant that is meant to seal the EPS leak in that console or some sort of EPS byproduct reacting in air, I don’t remember or have a head-canon for it.

All of that said, if I form this reply into one worthy of Daystrom, then I say it is an intended safety mechanism to protect the crew against catastrophic failure of the EPS conduits.