Ed - it’s a fluid world so I can’t forsee the future. Generally we have a set of rules and house rules and then specific game format rules (eg Gunboat) that cover every situation that we can think of. They’ve been put together under lots of feedback from players and our own experience both as moderators and players of the game. We update them when new situations develop as best we can but if players don’t like them they are always welcome to feedback and we very often take that feedback on board and implement it.
I think they cover everything, but about once every couple of years something comes up. Some of it is due to players not understanding the situation - for example we had a player not be very happy in a game due to not understanding that he was unable to move fed when he had a 2,000 infantry army with one food in it for example (clearly they had a food so clearly they could move was his thoughts there). I’d say the SS victory is an example of something similar (not identical) to that - the players assumed that something wasn’t in the game but it was, it could have been removed as Dave H comments, but it wasn’t so we had to stick to the rules of the game and not interfere.
However, as you are a proponent of the hidden aspect of the game (me too to a certain extent) things will occur that some players don’t perceive and then be annoyed when it bites them. I just came across something like it in a Grudge game - a navy got past my blocking navy and I thought hard and long on that one before working it out - others might have seen that as the opposition having cheated but it took a while to sort out the what, the where and the why of it from my part.
So the game advances and the rules to cover each situation as they come up. Culurally there is a big difference - before the US/UK Merger the House rules were 2 pages long (or similar), now they’re 16 pages long so players see things differently and appreciate the rules in different ways all over the world. That’s fine with me.
BUT, and there’s a big but, somethings come out of the blue and we have to deal with it - that’s what I do - deal with the less than 1% of situations and turns that go off-track in some way. We don’t know what it is or how or where it will come from. So one example of this was the Hurricane - lots of our players were affected by this and we were asked to delay the game a week for some people. We did that. Now it’s not in the rules (exception see below) but we did interfere there and took the humanitarian approach and let real world issues impact on the game. What would you have done?
Not sure what mid-game change we did do here? We clarified the rules for the game (something that happens) - and the players of one team were unhappy that it detrimented them - I would be unhappy in their situation too! but I think it was both the fair answer and also the correct answer. We also clarified a difference between the rulebook and the code and informed the players of that as soon as we knew. Interesting enough in all the time GSI and others run the game this never come up (that I’m aware of) so I’m happy that players are still trying new things and coming up with new tactics.
Apologies to Gary’s team and I know it’s somewhat harsh on you guys but I think everyone loses on this one and you guys most of all.
As to the apology- I’m confused I think you’re talking about the event 5 years ago. I recall the time - it was the 90+ hours work and some inexperience at that time with the interesting way that we had to learn about business outside our small island that hurt us a little there. Is that what you mean? I believe that I have apologised for any confusion that caused to everyone out there. I don’t recall the specifics of the house rules - did we send them out or not I don’t recall I think we did but I have no proof - it was hard work for a while, if players received them or not but I think that the statue of limitations might apply here. 
There was one big difference in the way the game was implemented (there were many but one comes to mind). The DS (mostly - applies to all of course) sometimes got into trouble and had the Special Service turns turned off to save a nation until a back-up could be given or gold transferred etc to keep a nation in the game. In the UK/Europe games that wasn’t allowed in GSI’s games it was. We allowed the games that were GSI’s/DGE’s games to finish with the US rules for this (came as a shock actually!) but any new games we didn’t allow it for example. We informed the players (the house rules were sent out and we requested, as we have many times since, that players read them).
If DGE had bought the European Franchise then the shoe would have been on the other foot and the Europeans’ would have been the ones somewhat confused. Like I said we’re not perfect but we’ve attempted to “fix it” where possible.
Often what happens is that players (as do I) assume that things are the same as before (eg in GB some players were stealing from allies - that’s not allowed in GB but with a quick clarification 99% of the players were content with that) in the older games they played in.
It’s interesting to note that I take longer to answer your attacks than ever we spend on PRS for my entire staff combined.
Hope that helps answer the question. (Note if you want a more specific answer - Section 26 of the house rules covers your, loaded once again I might add, question.)
Clint
Not one to hold a grudge myself but apologies (again I might add) for any confusion that the take-over caused. Ideally everything would have been perfect. I’m not sure your comment can be verified (we’ve not kept out emails from that period) but I think that’s by the by.
One thing we try to do is fix it if it does come up - something that was specifically against GSI’s policy I might add. As it is we’re the most experienced PB(e)M firm at doing such takeovers but even now mistakes occur despite many years, experience and talent at such things.