I like the closed-lane analogy. FWIW, I *never* let lane-runners back into traffic - unless they have pretty blinking lights on the roof.. But someone always does...
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My favorite game of all time was Simutronics' "DragonRealms". It's a text-based MMORPG. It's why my left wrist is crap now.
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Being text-based, DragonRealms allows for the creation of elaborate action scripts. The game is also skills-based. In order to improve a skill like Lockpicking or Primary Magic, you have to use the skill. You level when you earn the required number of new ranks in your prime, secondary, and tertiary skillsets.
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Because the game can be hotkeyed and scripted for working the mind-numbing skills, many people used to find an empty room in a safe zone and sit down - then set an endless script running. Ten hours later, they'd have six ranks of Primary Magic, or one of the other non-combat-related skills. Totally AFK. They may have gone to bed even.
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Some of the folks even scripted combat against certain enemies that were no longer dangerous to them but still gave experience. Ssomething like "ADVANCE CROC...SLICE CROC...SKIN CROC...GET SKIN...PUT SKIN IN BACKPACK...ADVANCE CROC..."
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Hotkeys and scripting were perfectly acceptable - as long as there was still a mind behind the keyboard. If a GM or GA popped in and said hello, everyone in the room had better speak up right away, or be vouched for by someone else in the room.
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AFK scripters were fair game. If you were scripting in the Croc swamp, someone might wander in, make sure you were AFK scripting, and then report you to the GMs or drag you out of the swamp (you could forcibly drag someone if you were stronger, they weren't very burdened, etc.).
Usually the AFK folks would keep their log file running, so there was always a chance that they'd review their log, see who dragged them out, and come looking for you, which proved their character and/or lack of wisdom because non-consentual PvP was also against the rules and would get you locked out...
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The GMs and GAs were more direct. The AFK scripters were yanked from the realms and tossed into account suspension. Or, if the GMs were feeling frisky, your empty room would get a load of Rock Guardians shoved through the door, and the AFK scripter would die, and decay...and while you were dead, your 'memories' faded - you lost skills the whole time you were dead. Stay AFK overnight while dead, and you'd 'wake up' a couple of levels lower than when you went to sleep.
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The point was, the dividing line was the AK / AFK disjunction. You could script for ten hours as long as you were monitoring your script. You were lock-out fodder if you could be shown to be provably AFK while scripting.
I believe ("ego credo") that AFK leveling at the platform is unethical.
However, I have a very good understanding of ethics. One important point is that though I find something to be unethical, others may not hold the same opinion. We could engage in another long debate on societal rules and how they come about and evolve - I love those discussions - but this post would be far too long.
I have a good memory. If I see someone that I can identify as being an AFK leveler, I just...remember. And I don't team with them or offer other assistance in the future.
~Reba Yall
~Born to Tank
