EDIT: didn't exactly read the entire thread until now.
I can see where editing can be a good thing, it can give you a basic understanding of how pixel art and spriting works.
I still stand to my point where you should only edit if you do it heavily, recoloring, splicing or tracing can really just suck a cock for all I care. You can pretty much experiment with alot of the techniques used in spriting as long as you know what you are doing without making it look nearly the same as the original sprite (Hi shitty sonic edits! Hi Fakemon!).
There should be a beginners board that allows edits to an extent, but I don't think it'll do any good unless the mindset of this community changes.
I can see where editing can be a good thing, it can give you a basic understanding of how pixel art and spriting works.
I still stand to my point where you should only edit if you do it heavily, recoloring, splicing or tracing can really just suck a cock for all I care. You can pretty much experiment with alot of the techniques used in spriting as long as you know what you are doing without making it look nearly the same as the original sprite (Hi shitty sonic edits! Hi Fakemon!).
There should be a beginners board that allows edits to an extent, but I don't think it'll do any good unless the mindset of this community changes.