Thank you for bringing up this problem, Kass. Many Gallery members have been dismayed to see the cheating going on in the Gallery, both by members who increase their own numbers, but also members who tamper with other members' DL numbers (yes, EA, both are possible). In fact, in the last month or so, the Gallery has lost several prominent creators who were fed up with the cheating and the environment of mistrust and dishonesty that has informed the Gallery. I will add that some of the cheaters actually publish the fact that they cheat online, and taunt the other gallery members whom they impact with their behaviour. I understand that people take advantage of their relative anonymity online to do all sorts of things they perhaps wouldn't do in person. But that does not mean that those acts don't affect others and, in this case, diminish the pleasure in Gallery activities.
Also dismaying is the (lack of) response by EA. We are customers, after all, and we consistently pay for the packs etc that accompany the game. But just as it is easy for a Gallery member not to respect others they never meet in person, it is easy for EA to ignore or downplay the dissatisfaction of Gallery members who feel taken advantage of--after all EA representatives will never meet us face to face, either. We know how quickly EA responded when threatened by Disney to sort out game problems with Battlefront 2--virtually overnight. However the invisible customers who populate the Gallery don't have the power of Disney to put pressure on people like EA CEO Andrew Wilson. I wonder if EA reps actually appreciate the wide range of participants in the Gallery? Yes, it is "just a game," but many Gallery members who enjoy creating to relax spend their working days as busy professionals in media, health, education and business, amongst other areas. These are your customers, EA. I know we would all greatly appreciate at least an update as to EA's progress in closing this Gallery loophole. I also know we would appreciate a definitive statement that EA cares about cheating in the Gallery it created as part of the Sims 4 experience.