shadow master/warrior slvl, caps, etc.

[Striker]

Technically, ATMA is a 3rd party program, but no one here seems to have a problem with it (neither do I) as it doesnt make the game easier, and is not a cheat.

The way I see it is that ATMA and FoxBat's Lag Reducer help to boost people from a 'lower' level of a playing field to one that matches an average (non-cheating) closed B.net player. ATMA, aside from the drop calculator and such, provides muling access without resorting to LAN or open B.net. While every closed B.net player might not actually mule items, the fact that they can do it could be considered an 'advantage' over the single player. ATMA helps to even this out. FoxBat's program allows people without access to 'superperformance' computers to run the program without lagging behind which also evens out the playing field. I believe this is the key to why these programs aren't considered cheats; they don't raise a player above a typical (non-cheating) one, but rather they lift up those that could technically be considered below average.

Maphack and programs like it, on the other hand, give people an outright advantage. They give abilites that are above and beyond what's listed on the box that the game came in. This is why those programs are frowned upon here (and with good reason).

If talking trades and 'what can I get for this' is frowned on on here, thats fine, I wont do it.  But where can I do this?  Do you know of a forum where SP trading is discussed freely?

You could try dii.net's Single Player forum (a link can be found on the left side of the page I linked to). I don't know for sure if they allow trading discussions there or if you would be directed to their trading forums, but that's a good place to start.