people who say using a rake is cheating are like the jazz musicians of lockpicking: like yes, we get that you're brilliant, but you're absolutely insufferable to be around because all you do is talk shit, which btw doesn't make you better at your art

@yaelwrites Actual geniuses would know the use and limits of raking, it's the folks with a medium level in any skill I find to be the most insufferable to compensate for lack of confidence.

A rake isn't cheating if it works, it just means that the lock doesn't have security pins. You'll see Lockpicking Lawyer rake a cheap lock to demonstrate its lack of security pins. I often rake before single-pin picking.

Obviously to pick locks with security pins you want to master single-pin picking too.

@kyle I have only heard people say raking is cheating at lockpick villages.

@yaelwrites I imagine it's a case of advice coming from a good place, given badly. Any of those people in a speed competition would rake first.

The longer, and nicer form of the advice would be:

"Raking only works on low security locks and is a less important skill to master than single-pin picking. Even if it does work on a low-security lock, it would be better to practice single-pin picking on that lock instead so when you get to a lock raking doesn't work on, you have the skills you need."