Random stakes to Pool Operators

Your comments started off asking a question, then you spoke yourself into a hole where you have given up already. Let me throw you a line to climb out :wink:

The CF delegation is random, it only asks for certain requirements which they set out in their initial communication here

Within this article, they lay out the terms of a pool to be included for a chance to receive delegation:

  • Hold between ₳25,000 and ₳2mn as a pledge,
  • Operated by a stakepool operator that only runs one pool (difficult to verify but best effort attempt),
  • Have a normal operating cost of less than 5% variable rate, and a fixed rate of around ₳340,
  • Does not have a high number of ada already staked (less than 5% saturation),
  • Have validated blocks successfully in the past,
  • Have not been delegated to by the Cardano Foundation in the last four rounds.

Obviously the CF need to make sure their ada is contributing to the eco-system so need to have some reassurances that a pool has been set up correctly and able to produce blocks. Fair if you ask me. Can’t expect them to delegate to a pool that doesn’t work.

In regards to IOG and their delegation, if you read their article it states people need to reach out to them (when available) to apply for their delegation and why your pool should have it. Don’t put yourself down so quick, if like you say, you have spent a considerable amount of time and investment setting up and maintaining a pool, you clearly have enough interest and care for the system. Don’t rule yourself out before you even try. You will become your own worst enemy!

So to answer you question, unless your pool is already successful, you have no less chance than any other operator at getting some delegation from one of the entities.