@ThrillerFan - You're inferring more from my prior post than I actually said. Yes, black has options as always (you are correct in that respect), but each of them commits to a particular central plan. Black can't occupy and hold the center in classical fashion, but he does have to commit to something in the center. Even the symmetric 1. ..Nf6 is a commitment of sorts, as it turns d5 into a battleground (as a Reti player wants). It does not eliminate the Reti - Reti himself replied with 2. c4 and 3. b4 when Capablanca played 1. ..Nf6, and we know how that turned out.
I actually play 1. ..c5 against the Reti when I see it, but it still leaves an open center, which is what white wants. It's what I want, too, so it's not really a problem for me. The point is that it's still thematically a Reti, as 2. c4 still does what the Reti intends in the center.
The point was that no matter what black plays, white can transpose in some way, shape or form, from a true Reti into some other, very different opening. In other words, black has to wait to see what white's true intentions are. Black can limit those options with his initial reply to some extent, but the basic theme of an open (or at least tense and thus easily re-openable) center remains in place, and white will always have a viable option to transpose.
The Reti Opening is closely related to the English Opening, so there are thematic similarities, the main difference being that an early e5 is out of play. Further, 1. Nf3 is used more often to transpose than it is to actually play a Reti these days. Black won't be sure it's a Reti until move 2, and if he plays the main line 1. ..d5, black will have to leave either the QGA or QGD transpositions on the table for quite some time.
I've been playing the Reti for a few years now, and not once have I come out of the opening poorly. I've seen every one of the replies you list above from at least one player rated 1900 or better, and I have played 2. c4 to good effect against each and every one of them. I can transpose out of the Reti system if I want to, but I usually don't (occasionally I'll turn it into a QGA or QGD if that's what the opponent leaves me). Every attempt black has made to occupy the center against me has failed, often at the cost of a pawn, and always the center opens up to white's advantage.
White doesn't dictate what black will do, but it does shut down the classical approach to the center. White can transpose to a classical opening if he wants, but black has no such options.
You talk like I have no clue about any of this. I probably know more about the Reti than you do, actually! For example, back in the summer, I played in a Correspondence tournament (one of many) on ICCF (I still have about 70 games going, but this one is done), where I was White in the following game.
So trust me, I don't need lessons on the Reti, but many of your claims are false. The Reti and the English has substantial differences to them. I am also very well aware of the 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Bb2 line that I presume you are referring to in another post.
Also, you say that 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 is thematically a Reti. Uhm, NO! It is thematically a Symmetrical English!
For the same reason, 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 is NOT an English! It's a Reti, despite the 1.c4 move!
And ...e5 cannot completely be stopped. The reverse dragon may not be possible with 1.Nf3, but the reverse Closed can:
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 d6 and 1.Nf3 d6 2.c4 e5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7, for example, are the same thing. There are probably more move orders to this position then there are fingers on your hands. It is an English, by definition!
Looks like with your 1435 rating that you should be doing more asking and less telling since clearly you only know a limited amount of what you are talking about!
Also, I wanted to address the 1. Nf3 g6 line specifically. This can still work out the same basic way, that is 1. Nf3 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 and now if 3. ..Bxc3?! black is saddled with dark square weakness for the rest of the game. Yes, white has to accept doubled c-pawns, but black is most certainly worse. The Experts I've played this line against never take on c3, and there's a good reason for it.
Lasker considered the king's bishop to be a 1/2 pawn more valuable than the other minor pieces, and this particular line does seem to endorse that notion.
Who in their right mind would play 3...Bxc3?
3...d6 would be the most likely response. 3...c6 is ok as well. 3...Nf6 is fine but transposes to 1...Nf6 lines.
And from the other post, how can you say that White doesn't commit anything with 1.Nf3, but Black's move of 1...Nf6 is committal? 1...Nf6 is no more committal than 1.Nf3! SMH!