Because of the mass of cheating on live chess, I've opted to only play 1 min. games for the last 7 months or so. 

The result. 

A rating that fluctuates in 150 point swings depending on the day.

I huge loss of tactical ability that I once was very proud of.

Impatience.

Overall have taken leaps backwards in my playing ability. 

This weekend I was on the verge of just quitting this game, because of the huge time waste, and my feeling that I really have nothing to add to the game.  After so much time invested to see where I am currently at, I'm really depressed about it.

Although the internet is great for learning.  Playing online is a wasteland full of cheaters.  Back to coffee shops and chess clubs for me.  Chess.com's inability to control the live chess cheaters (don't even get me started on turn-based) has almost led me to quitting this game I love.

This is just my opinion, but if you are playing to learn then you should have no particular problem playing against a cheat; it would be similar to playing against a strong player.

Alternatively, if you're playing for rating, you might have an issue.

Both...I think I play online games to see where I'm at rating wise.  I used to study master games and tactics to learn.  No matter what a live chess game is a goal to win not just learn....at least for me

Ah, in this case it makes a little sense, although I have to wonder how many cheats there can be at 2000 Standard, or in the other time controls too.

I like the idea of using online blitz to practice openings and whatnot, but then measuring your playing strength by OTB play only. At least, that's basically what I do.

Hi Immo, dont give up, yes we all know theres lots of cheats out there, but they do catch some of them, I think they ought to be more naming and shaming of them. The sad fact is that there will always be cheats, but we cant let them stop the good guys playing here, can we? 

Who cares? Let's play.

 True story.

When I first started playing chess I was a member on ICC...this is years back.  There were cheaters to be sure playing in the live chess, but they had something called speed timer or speed trap or something, that caught most people and a Red light would glow when someone was cheating and you could abort the game.  Then those people were branded with a "CHEATER" brand and no one would play them....

Also BTW for those of you that think cheating is all about gaining rating points, there were many 1300's who had the brand.  Meaning cheating is more about a false sense of "power" than rating points.

I just wish the chess.com programmers could protect the paying customers better from this.