Abandoning instead of resigning

I was mostly wondering if there was any practical benefit from abandoning a game rather than resigning. My assumptions seem to be correct though, they both count as a loss and there's no difference in rating gain or loss. As for reasons why people abandon games in losing positions, I suppose it boils down to bad sportsmanship and the fact that there is minimal to no punishment for doing so when playing online. Imagine people simply walking away in an over-the-board game, they would probably no longer be welcome in any chess clubs or on tournaments. I have to disagree with you there sean893 about being patient when people are stalling. I wouldn't wish for you to have to stay put if someone you played OTB suddenly stood up from their chair and walked away. But then again, if you find it educational, you do you.

It doesn't really bother me that much if a game is abandoned and the auto-resign timer starts. It's mildly annoying at most. However, my opinion is that people who repeatedly stall games (by purposefully losing on time when in a losing position, . keeping the tab open but not making a move) should be punished a bit harsher than just "restricting them to playing other bad sports". A temporary ban would be appropriate. Seems like other online chess sites implement this.

People who keep playing rather than resigning in losing positions would be a different matter entirely. In lower levels (below 1200 or so, where I also belong), one should never resign in my opinion. A winning position doesn't mean anything for us because oftentimes we might blunder into a losing one, even if the material for window tint houston difference is several pieces. It's also good endgame practice.