No opening consultation even for Daily rated games.

I have just emailed Chess.com asking where the 8 move rule is stipulated. I will let you know what happens. 

maybe she meant , it limited to 8 moves for the free members in the opening explorer

Your "View" is Wrong. It is based on assumptions. You have Zero statistical evidence. With longer time controls, it is only natural to expect a higher level of play for all players of all ratings. A players performance at fast time controls vs slower time controls can vary widely in either direction.

Again, you make an assumption regarding how "hard" detection is, knowing absolutely nothing about the process, techniques and the metrics used by the Detection Team. No doubt, under some circumstance, it may take longer for the metrics to prove conclusive. 

Staff does not like discussing cheating. This is very clear. I have kept it generic. Just to point out the misconceptions many players have about correspondence players being inclined to use an engine. Want to set the record straight. This myth all too often gets tossed out there by players who have little experience at playing correspondence. They make undocumented, unsubstantiated claims.

The OP's claim of "8 moves only" clearly is a misunderstanding on his part. Such a "rule" clearly would posses no point and have no effect.

If it is a competition there is more of an incentive to cheat. What is YOUR evidence cheating is less likely in Daily Chess? I did use the words "In my view". I never stated it as a fact. 

If everyone can use an Opening book as far into the game as they like, it makes everyone more equal and defeats the object of having a Daily rating. In unrated Daily Chess, I think there is a very good case for Opening material to practise.

Amelia is a she, not a he.

Also, I said cheating doesn't have to be an engine either. Deliberately dropping points to qualify for an easier tournament does count.

in before the lock

take your cheating discussion in here

https://www.chess.com/club/cheating-forum

You must have misunderstood the email you received. There is no restriction to look at opening books for 8 moves or less. In fact, you can not only look at opening books but you can look at libraries of games. You can follow the moves in a library of games right up until checkmate. Even if the game is 100 moves long. And this is totally fine and is as correspondence chess should be. 

What you cannot ever do in correspondence chess is put your position into an engine or use an engine to explore positions that might arise from your position. You simply must not use an engine.  

Interesting. Not much fun reproducing another game. Should, I think be confined to unrated correspondence, also available on chess.com. The book opening moves are also on the Chess engine, so if the computer is completely forbidden even then, how would anyone know whether you used a book or the computer? 

I have screenshots now of her emails. No misunderstanding by me.

How do I copy a screenshot here sorry?

The OP has played exactly ZERO Daily games here.  

From where he speaks is anybody's guess, perhaps elsewhere, but with his responses and claim of "8 moves" clearly he lacks personal experience on the subject. His lack of understanding the metrics used, the questions and assumptions he makes, I can not take seriously, having played hundreds of correspondence games yearly since 1975.

Read the rules of play OP, and clearly NOWHERE is a "8 move limit" placed on referencing book/explorer moves. Your lack of understanding what correspondence is all about, the assumptions being made, exception must be made. Perhaps unwittingly, but you perpetuate myths that do harm to the spirit and excellence of correspondence play. 

Your post is half cut off. Better to copy and paste than the screen shot. Include your original question. The 1st part indicates you originally asked about 8 moves. Perhaps she misunderstood your question which may not have been clearly stated.

It does appear Amelia is misinformed. The response of only referencing to move 8 is 100% incorrect. Think about it. This is completely senseless, useless as a "rule." Perhaps she is new, who knows, but she is incorrect.

Perhaps a Staff member can interject here and clear up the created confusion.

Whether it is custom or not, I don't see the skill in being allowed to copy other people's moves from Opening books and/or databases. The only skill I see is if the opponent deviates into a position that is in no database and therefore original. I would say better to confine such play to unrated correspondence. 

My source of the 8 moves only now posted. It was from a chess.com staff member.

WE get IT !

You don't see the skill. 

Nobody agrees with you. It is but a singular viewpoint not shared by anyone else.

By your "reasoning" all books should be banned. My ex wife was of the same non-nonsensical opinion. She wanted to learn the game. I suggested a book or two. Her response was an emphatic "NO, that would be cheating, she could figure it out by herself" !

I stand to be corrected. Please explain what the skill is unless the position becomes completely original.